NORTHERN IRELAND

Bill of Rights

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2011,  Official Report, column 452W, on the Bill of Rights, if he will take steps to increase the likelihood of agreement being reached amongst Northern Ireland parties on a Northern Ireland Bill of Rights.

Hugo Swire: The Government continue to stress the importance of reaching agreement among political representatives and the wider community on the issue of supplementary rights for Northern Ireland in their discussions with interested groups. We will continue to consider how best to proceed over the coming months.

Departmental Public Bodies

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which public bodies sponsored by his Department  (a) have been and  (b) are to be closed, merged or reorganised following his appointment; and how many (i) women and (ii) men who are public appointees at each body will no longer hold such an appointment in consequence.

Hugo Swire: The Northern Ireland Office sponsors three bodies that are classified as public bodies by Cabinet Office. These are: the Boundary Commission Northern Ireland, the Parades Commission and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. The Department has no current plans to close, merge or reorganise any of these bodies.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken to reduce departmental expenditure.

Hugo Swire: My Department has already taken steps to reduce travel, accommodation and other general administration costs, and is committed to reducing overall expenditure by 25% by the end of the spending review period.

Domestic Visits

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many days in each of the last three years  (a) he and his predecessors and  (b) Ministers of State have been in Northern Ireland on official business.

Owen Paterson: The Minister of State, the right hon. Member for East Devon (Mr Swire) and I, and our predecessors, have been in Northern Ireland on official business on the following number of days:
	
		
			   Days 
			  Secretary of State  
			 2008 83 
			 2009 81 
			 2010 (1)33 
			 2010 (2)82 
			 2011 (3)19 
			   
			  Minister of State  
			 2008 133 
			 2009 124 
			 2010 (1)41 
			 2010 (2)72 
			 2011 (3)19 
			 (1 )Up to general election 6 May 2010 (2) From appointment on 12 May 2010 (3) To date

Serious Organised Crime Agency

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the migration to the National Crime Agency of the work carried out in Northern Ireland by the Serious Organised Crime Agency;
	(2)  how many people formerly employed by the Assets Recovery Agency in Northern Ireland were transferred to the Serious Organised Crime Agency;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the operation of the Serious Organised Crime Agency in Northern Ireland;
	(4)  what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on the operation of the Serious Organised Crime Agency.

Hugo Swire: Matters relating to the Serious Organised Crime Agency fall under the responsibility of the devolved Administration in Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Justice Minister and his Department work closely with the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), and her Department on such matters.
	The Secretary of State and I meet regularly with the Northern Ireland Justice Minister to discuss as necessary matters relating to security in Northern Ireland.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Legal Advice and Assistance: Libya

John Spellar: To ask the Attorney-General whether he provided legal advice to Ministers prior to the recent diplomatic mission to eastern Libya; and if he will make a statement.

Dominic Grieve: By long-standing convention, observed by successive administrations and embodied in the Ministerial Code, the fact that the Law Officers have advised (or have not advised) on a particular issue, and the content of any advice, is not disclosed outside of Government.

TRANSPORT

Bus Services: Concessions

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of availability of services to provide free bus passes to elderly people in rural areas; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Baker: The National Travel Survey 2009 estimated that 87% of households in Great Britain were within six minutes walk of a bus stop while a further 10% were within 13 minutes. Between 1998 and 2009, the proportion of households in rural areas that were within 13 minutes walk of an hourly or more frequent bus service increased from 45% to 58%.
	The England-wide concessionary travel pass is valid for free travel on local buses at off-peak times in any local authority. Its use is not restricted to the local authority in which the pass holder resides.

WALES

Business Advisory Group

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the name is of each member of the Business Advisory Group for Wales.

David Jones: Members, confirmed, as of the first meeting were:
	David Rosser (CBI Wales)
	Russell Lawson (FSB Wales)
	Steve Thomas (Airbus)
	Phil Orford ( Forum of Private Business)
	Dylan Jones Evans (University of Wales)
	Graham Hillier (Toyota)
	Colin Orr Burns (Dragon LNG)
	Professor Stuart Cole (Wales Transport Research Centre)
	Professor Wayne Powell (Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University)
	Paul Gorin (Smart Solutions Ltd.)

SCOTLAND

Departmental Public Bodies

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which public bodies sponsored by his Department  (a) have been and  (b) are to be closed, merged or reorganised following his appointment; and how many (i) women and (ii) men who are public appointees at each body will no longer hold such an appointment in consequence.

David Mundell: The only public body sponsored by the Scotland Office is the Boundary Commission for Scotland. The Boundary Commission for Scotland has not and is not to be closed, merged or reorganised.

Departmental Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what regulations his Department introduced between 3 February 2011 and 28 February 2011.

David Mundell: Between 3 February 2011 and 28 February 2011 the Secretary of State for Scotland introduced no regulations.

Departmental Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what regulations his Department revoked between 3 February 2011 and 28 February 2011.

David Mundell: Between 3 February 2011 and 28 February 2011 the Secretary of State for Scotland revoked no regulations.

Domestic Visits

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many days  (a) he and  (b) his predecessors have spent in Scotland on official business in each of the last three years.

David Mundell: The Secretary of State for Scotland and I routinely conduct official business in Scotland. Details of meetings with external organisations are published on the Government's Transparency website at:
	http://data.gov.uk
	and are also published on the Scotland Office website.

Elections

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland with reference to the Spring Supplementary Estimate 2010/11, HC 790, for what reasons there is proposed a reduction of £15 million in non-voted expenditure in relation to Scottish Parliament elections.

David Mundell: The funding for the Scottish Parliament election forms part of the grant to the Scottish Consolidated Fund; however the costs of the Scottish Parliament election fall to the Scotland Office. The Spring Supplementary Estimate 2010-11, HC790, transaction is the transfer of the £15 million non-voted expenditure from the Scottish Consolidated Fund to the Scotland Office.

TREASURY

Cheques

Roger Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on proposals from the UK Payments Council to phase out cheques as a method of payment; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: The Treasury has received a number of representations from individuals and businesses that are affected by the decision of the Payments Council, and who wish to continue to use cheques in future.
	I refer the hon. Member to my letter of 10 December 2010 to all Members of the House setting out the Government's position on cheques.

Child Care Tax Credit

William Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families in  (a) Glasgow North East constituency,  (b) Glasgow,  (c) Scotland and  (d) Great Britain received assistance with the cost of childcare under the tax credit system in each of the last four financial years.

David Gauke: The following table shows the number of families that were benefiting from the child care element of tax credits at December in each of the past four years:
	
		
			  Number of families benefiting from the child care element of tax credits 
			  At December each year:  2007  2008  2009  2010 
			 Glasgow North East 1,100 1,100 1,100 1,100 
			 Glasgow City 5,800 6,200 6,500 6,600 
			 Scotland 40,100 42,300 43,600 44,200 
			 Great Britain 412,500 445,000 463,000 469,500

Civil Servants: Pensions

Ian Murray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans permanently to uprate civil service pensions using the consumer prices index.

Danny Alexander: holding answer 28 February 2011
	Public service pensions will continue to be index linked and continue to protect individual pensions against increases in the cost of living. Legislation which governs the uprating of benefits, tax credits, and public service pensions requires consideration to be given to increases in the general level of prices, estimated in such manner as the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions thinks fit. The Government consider that the Consumer Prices Index, already used to set the inflation target for the Bank of England, is the appropriate index to use for such estimates in future.

Corporation Tax

William Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the proportion of businesses trading in the UK which paid no corporation tax in each of the last four financial years.

David Gauke: For the last four financial years where figures are available it is estimated that the proportion of companies, that were required to make a Corporation tax (CT) return, which paid no CT is 53% (2005-06), 44% (2006-07), 46% (2007-08) and 50% (2008-09). These companies either made losses or had no taxable profits after deductions.
	These deductions include losses brought forward from earlier years and carried back from later years and group relief surrendered by companies within the same group.
	Group and loss relief policies remain broadly unchanged since the inception of the CT regime in 1965. Group and loss relief are important elements of the CT regime which ensure that companies with similar profits over their life cycle but different patterns of profits and losses over the years, pay broadly the same amounts of tax overall and recognises the economic reality that grouped companies are part of a wider whole. This is balanced, however, with the need for a pragmatic approach to protect tax revenues.

Departmental Assets

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether receipts from the sale of assets owned by regional development agencies are reflected in the spending plans of his Department for  (a) 2012-13 and  (b) 2013-14.

Danny Alexander: No receipts from the sale of assets owned by regional development agencies are reflected in the spending plans of HM Treasury for 2012-13 and 2013-14.

Departmental Rail Travel

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what proportion of civil servants in his Department are entitled to travel first class by rail within the UK.

Justine Greening: There is no entitlement for any HM Treasury staff members to travel first class by rail.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ensure that there is sent to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton without further delay a copy of the letter of 21 February 2011 setting out the Government's overall position on fuel duty related risks.

Justine Greening: I have arranged for a copy of the letter, sent to all hon. Members, dated 9 February 2011, on Fuel Duty issues to be sent to the right hon. Member.

National Insurance Contributions

Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies have made use of the regional employers national insurance contribution holiday for new businesses since June 2010.

David Gauke: The Government intend to publish details of the take-up of the NICs holiday around Budget later this month.

PAYE

Julie Elliott: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made on reforming the PAYE system to introduce real time collection of payments.

David Gauke: HMRC published a consultation document "Improving the operation of Pay As You Earn (PAYE): Collecting Real Time Information" in December 2010. The formal consultation closed on 28 February 2011 and the written responses are being analysed.
	A summary of responses will be published in due course.

Pensions: Public Sector

Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate has been made of the number of retired people receiving public sector pensions worth more than  (a) £100,000,  (b) £75,000 and  (c) £50,000 per year; and what estimate has been made of the number of people working in the public sector who are expected to receive pensions after retirement worth more than (i) £100,000, (ii) £75,000 and (iii) £50,000 per year.

Danny Alexander: HM Treasury does not hold member data centrally. This is an issue for Departments who lead on individual public service pension schemes. Some information was included in the interim report of the Independent Public Service Pensions Commission, led by Lord Hutton of Furness, published on 7 October 2010:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/indreview_johnhutton _pensions.htm
	Table 1.C of the report provides details on the distribution of pension payments in the public service schemes. In particular, it estimates that 34,252 pensioners receive at least £37,000 per annum and 2,960 pensioners receive at least £67,000 per annum.

Revenue and Customs: India

David Davis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what matters officials of HM Revenue and Customs discussed with their Indian counterparts when in Delhi between 29 November and 5 December 2010.

David Gauke: HMRC officials met with Indian tax officials in Delhi and Mumbai between 29 November and 5 December 2010. Discussions covered transfer pricing, advance pricing agreements, mutual agreement procedures, arbitration, tax treaty matters, sharing information on tax avoidance, and help which HMRC can provide to India. In addition they covered international tax bodies of which HMRC and the Indian tax authorities are members, reform of the Indian tax system (the introduction of a goods and services tax and the new direct taxes code), tax law rewrite, post-clearance audits and tax enforcement matters, including money laundering.
	As a result of those discussions, arrangements have been made for two teams of Indian tax officials to visit HMRC.

Revenue and Customs: Sick Leave

John McDonnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the gross total was for the number of days lost due to staff sickness in each of HM Revenue and Customs business streams in each of the last five years.

David Gauke: holding answer 7 March 2011
	The following table gives the total number of days lost to staff sickness in each of HM Revenue and Customs business streams in each of the last five years.
	
		
			   Days taken  Headcount 
			  Year ended 31 December 2010   
			 Benefits and Credits 70,364 7,126 
			 Business Tax 32,401 4,300 
			 Corporate Services 56,873 6,529 
			 Enforcement and Compliance 257,977 28,715 
			 Personal Tax 352,090 28,796 
			 Unknown-grouping not found 62,754 2 
			 Total 832,459 75,468 
			
			  Year ended 31 December 2009   
			 Benefits and Credits 93,078 7,306 
			 Business Tax 34,893 4,147 
			 Corporate Services 64,532 7,154 
			 Enforcement and Compliance 281,432 29,850 
			 Personal Tax 434,170 32,543 
			 Unknown-grouping not found 72,163 41 
			 Total 980,268 81,041 
			
			  Year ended 31 December 2008   
			 Benefits and Credits 96,417 7,806 
			 Business Tax 20,039 3,185 
			 Corporate Services 68,123 8,038 
			 Enforcement and Compliance 305,639 36,314 
			 Personal Tax 472,156 35,848 
			 Unknown-grouping not found 48,438 8 
			 Total 1,010,812 91,199 
			
			  Year ended 31 December 2007   
			 Benefits and Credits 706 104 
			 Business Tax 12,259 2,996 
			 Corporate Services 55,027 8,734 
			 Enforcement and Compliance 222,345 39,264 
			 Personal Tax 544,343 42,258 
			 Unknown-grouping not found 51,159 2,185 
			 Total 885,839 95,541 
			
			  Year ended 31 December 2006   
			 Benefits and Credits 427 92 
			 Business Tax 7,196 2,724 
			 Corporate Services 36,779 9,946 
			 Enforcement and Compliance 172,443 41,757 
			 Personal Tax 398,277 45,886 
			 Unknown-grouping not found 272,996 50 
			 Total 888,118 100,455 
			  Notes: 1. There have been structural changes within HMRC over the period covered by the table. Data which could not be attributed to a particular business stream have been recorded as 'Unknown'. The two former departments did not move to a single IT system until November 2006 and that accounts for the relatively high number of unknowns in that year. For example, Benefits and Credits comprised only the project team establishing the new business stream; other staff are included in the figures for Personal Tax. 2. The numbers are actual days taken and not the full-time equivalent.

Revenue and Customs: Training

Glyn Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what training staff have undertaken on claiming and payment of working tax credit before assessing individual claims.

David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) assess, calculate and pay tax credits entitlement automatically. Rapid data capture (RDC) techniques are used to scan information on tax credits claims electronically and record it onto the tax credits computer system. Further information about RDC is published on the HMRC website at:
	www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/ntcmanual/rdc/ntc1101100.htm
	All claims are subject to a range of automated checks. HMRC often need to make more detailed inquiries into incomplete claims or those that fail risk checks.
	HMRC deliver targeted learning to all staff when they are deployed to different aspects of tax credits work. Depending on the nature of the task, the learning can be delivered face to face, computer based, guided using work books or a combination of these. That learning is supported by detailed guidance, some of which is published on the HMRC website at:
	www.hmrc.gov.uk/thelibrary/manuals.htm
	and consolidated by a series of ongoing quality assurance checks.

Tax Avoidance

David Davis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax investigations were settled for a sum of more than  (a) £10 million and  (b) £100 million below the tax estimated to have been at risk in the last three years.

David Gauke: holding answer 17 February 2011
	Cases involving sums of this order are likely to involve big business. HMRC estimates the tax under consideration in any case involving big business before starting inquiries. That estimate is made without considering the likelihood of success in the case or examining the facts or how the law applies in specific circumstances. If an investigation is started, then the tax under consideration is kept under review and will usually change as the case progresses.
	The tax ultimately considered to be at risk is usually the amount for which the case is settled. HMRC are not able to identify any cases settled by agreement for £10 million or £100 million below the amount of tax at risk.

Taxation

David Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what  (a) discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for International Development and  (b) consultation he has undertaken with (i) developing countries and (ii) non-governmental organisations on proposed changes to the controlled foreign company rules and taxation of foreign branches.

David Gauke: Treasury Ministers hold regular conversations with the Secretary of State for International Development on a wide range of issues regarding developing countries.
	The Government published the consultation document "Corporate Tax Reform: delivering a more competitive system" on 29 November 2010 which includes the proposals for a new CFC regime and for reforms to the taxation of foreign branches. The Government are committed to an open transparent consultation and have encouraged engagement with all interested parties. This has included engaging with non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
	The Government work through a variety of channels to deliver high-quality capacity building in developing country tax administrations to ensure that these countries are in a position to collect the tax they are owed.

Taxation: Domicil

Mark Reckless: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many taxpayers became non-resident in each of the last three years for which figures are available;
	(2)  what proportion of taxpayers who became non-resident paid tax at a rate of 40 per cent. or higher in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

David Gauke: The information on the number of taxpayers who become non resident in each of the last three years is not available.
	Not all taxpayers who become non-resident either need or are obliged to notify HMRC if they become non-resident.
	The main source of data on residence is Self Assessment (SA) returns. Of the non residents who filed a SA return, it is estimated that those who became non-resident during each of the last three tax years for which figures are available were as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2006-07 23,000 
			 2007-08 32,000 
			 2008-09 29,000 
		
	
	These figures do not include those taxpayers who became non-resident but who had no obligation to submit a SA return.
	The percentage of those individuals who paid income tax at 40 per cent or higher in each year is as follows:
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 2006-07 27 
			 2007-08 23 
			 2008-09 29 
		
	
	2008-09 is the most recent tax year for which data is available.

VAT: Energy

Roger Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the merits of reducing the rate of value added tax on energy efficiency home improvements in order to help meet the objectives of the Green Deal.

David Gauke: The Government keep all taxes under review, and will continue to consider proposals for new reliefs carefully. A reduced rate of VAT is already applied to the installation of certain energy-saving materials in domestic properties, including insulation, draught stripping, solar panels and micro combined heat and power units.

Video Games: National Income

Hazel Blears: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what contribution the video games industry made to gross domestic product in  (a) 2007,  (b) 2008,  (c) 2009 and  (d) 2010.
	(2)  what proportion of the contribution made to the gross domestic product from the video games industry came from  (a) London,  (b) the North West,  (c) the North East,  (d) the South East,  (e) the South West,  (f) the East Midlands,  (g) the West Midlands and  (h) the East of England in (i) 2008 and (ii) 2010;
	(3)  what proportion of the tax revenues from the British video gaming industry came from  (a) London,  (b) the North West,  (c) the North East,  (d) the South East,  (e) the South West,  (f) the East Midlands,  (g) the West Midlands and  (h) the East of England in (i) 2008 and (ii) 2010;
	(4)  what estimate he has made of the receipts to the Exchequer from taxes on the video games industry in the UK in each year since 2007.

David Gauke: The information necessary to provide estimates broken into these regions, sectors and years is not available.

Working Tax Credit: Fraud

Glyn Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much working tax credit has been overpaid due to fraudulent claims in each of the last five years.

David Gauke: The latest published estimates show levels of tax credits error and fraud of 8.9% in 2008-09. HMRC do not record the levels of error and fraud within working tax credit and child tax credit separately. HMRC has a target to reduce the combined levels of error and fraud to no more than 5% by the end of March 2011.
	HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) publish its error and fraud statistics on its website. The most recent information is for 2008-09 and can be found at:
	www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtcredits-error0809.pdf
	The Trust Statement that accompanied HMRCs 2009-10 accounts explains in more detail how the Department measures the overall level of tax credits error and fraud, published at:
	www.hmrc.gov.uk/about/hmrc-accs-0910.pdf
	HMRC published a joint strategy with the Department for Work and Pensions to help drive down error and fraud across the benefits and tax credits system. The publication can be found at:
	www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/tackling-fraud-and-error.pdf

Housing: Construction

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to take steps to support the financing of self-build homes.

Grant Shapps: I have been asked to reply.
	Self builders are already one of the country's largest house builders. They form an important part of the Government's strong commitment to increasing the supply of affordable and sustainable homes and promoting economic growth.
	This is why we have invited industry experts to work with us on a Government-Industry working group to prepare an action plan, which will set out the concrete steps needed to make it easier for people to build their own homes, whether on their own or as part of a community effort to create a new neighbourhood.
	The working group have identified finance availability as a key challenge to the growth of the industry. A sub-group of industry experts will be examining finance issues in detail, and will identify any actions that can be taken to support self builders. The group will be making recommendations to me by the summer.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many suicide bombings against International Security Assistance Force forces operating under Regional Command South in Afghanistan were recorded in each month since June 2006.

Liam Fox: holding answer 25 January 2011
	 The numbers of suicide Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and Suicide Person Borne IED attacks recorded in Regional Command South each month since January 2007 are shown in the following table. None were recorded between June and December 2006. Regional Command South was split into Regional Command South West and Regional Command South in July 2010, so the numbers of attacks from this month onward occurred within a smaller geographical area.
	
		
			   Total attacks in Regional Command South 
			 January 2007 9 
			 February 2007 7 
			 March 2007 9 
			 April 2007 3 
			 May 2007 3 
			 June 2007 3 
			 July 2007 7 
			 August 2007 4 
			 September 2007 6 
			 October 2007 4 
			 November 2007 3 
			 December 2007 2 
			 January 2008 8 
			 February 2008 8 
			 March 2008 1 
			 April 2008 9 
			 May 2008 8 
			 June 2008 7 
			 July 2008 6 
			 August 2008 4 
			 September 2008 9 
			 October 2008 4 
			 November 2008 6 
			 December 2008 10 
			 January 2009 2 
			 February 2009 11 
			 March 2009 10 
			 April 2009 16 
			 May 2009 12 
			 June 2009 9 
			 July 2009 5 
			 August 2009 12 
			 September 2009 13 
			 October 2009 2 
			 November 2009 4 
			 December 2009 3 
			 January 2010 8 
			 February 2010 5 
			 March 2010 15 
			 April 2010 13 
			 May 2010 11 
			 June 2010 7 
			 July 2010 5 
			 August 2010 16 
			 September 2010 4 
			 October 2010 3 
			 November 2010 4 
			 December 2010 7 
		
	
	These numbers are based on information derived from a number of sources and can only be an estimate not least because of the difficulties in ensuring a consistent interpretation of the basis for collating statistics in a complex fast-moving multinational operational environment. The numbers may change over time as more information becomes available.

Aircraft Carriers

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to his Department will be of installing a catapult on the new aircraft carrier in each year of the comprehensive spending review period.

Peter Luff: Investigations into the conversion of the operational Queen Elizabeth Class carrier are ongoing and will produce detailed cost estimates when they conclude. We currently expect to take firm decisions on which carrier should be converted, the launch and recovery equipment to be fitted and the overall conversion strategy in late 2012.
	The Aircraft Carrier Alliance is fully involved in supporting studies as part of our investigations.
	No decisions have yet been taken and our final decision date may change as the investigations progress.

Amphibious Vehicles

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the construction cost of RFA Largs Bay was; and what its running cost was in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Peter Luff: It is not possible to separate the costs of procuring RFA Largs Bay as these were part of the Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) project which provided a batch of four Bay Class ships. The total procurement cost of the Bay Class of amphibious support ships was £660 million.
	The annual running cost of RFA Largs Bay, based on the expenditure incurred by the Department in 2009-10, was approximately £9.5 million. This figure includes maintenance, manpower, inventory expenses, satellite communications and fuel costs, but excludes depreciation.

Armed Forces: Pensions

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on potential exemption from changes to the indexation of pensions and benefits for  (a) service widows and  (b) maimed service personnel;
	(2)  pursuant to the contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence of 16 February 2011,  Official Report, column 1067, what steps his Department is taking to examine the future pensions of  (a) service widows and  (b) maimed personnel.

Andrew Robathan: I understand the implications of the changes for these particular groups and I am in discussion with the Forces Pension Society on this issue.

Armed Forces: Redundancy

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the oral statement of 15 February 2011,  Official Report, columns 815-6W, on armed forces (redundancies), which Minister in his Department is responsible for ensuring that no further army personnel receive notification of redundancy by email.

Andrew Robathan: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by the Secretary of State for Defence, the right hon. Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox) on 10 March 2011,  Official Report, column 1248W.

Armed Forces: Redundancy

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the oral statement of 15 February 2011,  Official Report, columns 815-6W, on armed forces (redundancies), what arrangements have been put in place to ensure that the correct procedure is followed to notify Army personnel facing redundancy; and who is responsible for the implementation of such a procedure.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 14 March 2011
	I refer the right hon. Member to the answer 1 gave on 9 March 2011,  Official Report, column 1098W).

Army: Manpower

Richard Drax: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the size of the Army following the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.

Nick Harvey: Government policy on the size of the Army is described in the Strategic Defence and Security Review White Paper, 'Securing Britain in an Age of Uncertainty'.

Atomic Weapons Establishment

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 16 February 2011,  Official Report, column 805W, on nuclear weapons, what estimate he has made of the likely level of savings to the public purse in  (a) submarine production,  (b) the nuclear warhead,  (c) supporting infrastructure and  (d) efficiency savings at the Atomic Weapons Establishment in each of the next 10 years.

Peter Luff: I am withholding the information requested, as providing greater details of expected savings would prejudice commercial interests.

Blue Force Property

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department had with  (a) Blue Force Property and  (b) Blue Force Services (i) before and (ii) since the companies went into liquidation; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 28 February 2011
	We had some discussions with BlueForces in the autumn regarding its financial position and its plans for dealing with it. We were not aware prior to the announcement of BlueForces' plans to go into liquidation and have had no substantive discussion with its managing director since.

Blue Force Property

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of  (a) serving members of HM armed forces and  (b) former service personnel who entered into property deals with (i) Blue Force Property and (ii) Blue Force Services; what his estimate is of the money lost by serving and former personnel as a result of the liquidation of those companies; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 28 February 2011
	 As this is a private matter, we hold no detailed information on how many service personnel are affected and how much they stand to lose.

Departmental Expenditure

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what expenditure  (a) his Department and  (b) each public body sponsored by his Department incurred on engaging external audit services in each of the last three years; and to which service providers such payments were made in each year.

Andrew Robathan: Information on auditors' remuneration, including the identity of the auditing organisation, is disclosed in the annual report and accounts of the Department and of those public bodies with an accounts direction from Her Majesty's Treasury.
	This information is as follows:
	
		
			  Expenditure (£) 
			  Body  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 MOD (1)3,600,000 (1)3,600,000 (1)3,600.000 
			 Defence Science and Technology Laboratory 100,000 100,000 100,000 
			 Defence Support Group (2)144,000 137,000 109,000 
			 Met Office 79,500 79,500 75,000 
			 UK Hydrographic Office 79,000 79,000 79,000 
			 National Army Museum 8,450 8,650 11,650 
			 National Museum of the Royal Navy (3)- (3)- 12,311 
			 Oil and Pipelines Agency 8,000 8,000 9,000 
			 Royal Air Force Museum 13,100 13,300 18,500 
			 Royal Naval Museum 8,150 8,350 (4)- 
			 Royal Marines Museum 7,650 7,850 (4)- 
			 Royal Navy Submarine Museum 7,650 7,850 (4)- 
			 Fleet Air Arm Museum 7,850 8,050 (4)- 
			 (1) Notional charge only. Includes notional audit fees for the Ministry of Defence's Annual Report and Accounts, the Armed Forces Pension Scheme Accounts and the Accounts of the MOD's on-Vote Agencies. (2) This figure reflects the combined fees paid by the Army Base Repair Organisation and the Defence Aviation Repair Agency before they merged to become the Defence Support Group on 1 April 2008. (3) Established on 1 April 2009. (4) Disestablished as non departmental public bodies on 31 March 2009. 
		
	
	The auditing organisation has been the National Audit Office for both the MOD and its public bodies. The National Museum of the Royal Navy has also engaged Baker Tilly UK Audit LLP. The remaining, advisory, non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the MOD lie within the MOD's departmental accounting boundary.

Departmental Land

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will takes steps to reduce the size of his Department's estate; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) keeps its estate under constant review to meet present and planned future requirements, with a view to disposing of surplus assets as quickly as possible in accordance with Treasury Guidelines (Managing Public Money Annex 4.8). Work is currently ongoing with each of the armed forces to identify additional estate rationalisation opportunities in accordance with the Strategic Defence and Security Review and is due to report in the summer.
	The new Defence Infrastructure Organisation will create a single delivery organisation responsible for all infrastructure projects, estates and property management including the 'soft' facilities management such as catering, cleaning and reception services. This approach will better balance defence requirements against available resources and help provide improved support to the delivery of military capability. The change will enable the Ministry of Defence to identify further opportunities to rationalise, utilise or better manage the estate leading to reductions in estate contract and utility costs of £160 million a year by 2014 and estate disposal receipts of over £500 million during the next four years.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to make budgetary savings in addition to those identified in the Strategic Defence and Security Review in each of the next four years.

Liam Fox: holding answer 10 March 2011
	The outcomes of the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) and the spending review form the basis of the Department's annual planning round (PR11), which is ongoing and premature speculation is not helpful to that process, to our armed forces, or to industry.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department expects to save as a result of the commitment in the strategic defence and security review to reductions in spending on commodities, including substantial savings on food, energy and professional services in each year of the comprehensive spending review period.

Peter Luff: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 29 November 2010,  Official Report, column 582W. It is too early to say what potential savings may accrue from the strategic defence and security review (SDSR) in all of the detailed categories listed. A great deal of work is now required to work through the detailed implications of the SDSR decisions and their implementation. We will be providing the fullest possible information as progress is made.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what professional services to his Department he expects to be reduced as a result of commitments in the Strategic Defence and Security Review; and whether any redundancies will result from such reductions.

Peter Luff: It is too early to say what potential savings may accrue in this area from the Strategic Defence and Security Review, but since the commitment to reduce spend on professional services relates to a range of services bought in from the private sector, for example on areas such as consultancy through to specialist technical support, it is unlikely to generate any direct redundancies in the defence workforce. It is not possible to assess any associated redundancies in the private sector. Savings will come both from reduced use of professional services, particularly consultancy, and from getting better rates for the work, including through working with the centralised procurement arrangements being established by the Efficiency and Reform Group to optimise economies of scale.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the unfunded liability in respect of  (a) equipment,  (b) procurement,  (c) support and  (d) each other expenditure category in his Department's budget over the next 10 years.

Liam Fox: The unfunded liability of £38 billion was calculated before the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR). The SDSR announced substantial reductions through non-front line savings and efficiencies, as well as reductions to the pre-SDSR planned force structure.
	The process of aligning resources and commitments will continue through the current Planning Round.

Departmental Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what regulations his Department introduced between 9 and 28 February 2011.

Andrew Robathan: Between 9 and 28 February 2011, the Ministry of Defence made one new order, namely the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) Order 2011 (SI 2011/517). This order revokes and re-enacts the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) 2005, with modifications incorporating the recommendations of the Review of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme by Admiral the Lord Boyce, which was laid before Parliament in February 2010.
	An Order-in-Council relating to service pensions was also made during this period, namely the Naval, Military and Air Forces Etc. (Disablement and Death) Service Pensions (Amendment) Order 2011 (SI 2011/235).

Devolution

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what correspondence he has received from the devolved Administrations on the  (a) principle and  (b) implementation of the armed forces covenant and report; and if he will publish each item of correspondence.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 28 February 2011
	We have corresponded with Ministers in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, advising them of the provisions to be added to the Armed Forces Bill on the Armed Forces Covenant, prior to its introduction to Parliament.
	It would not be appropriate to publish their responses without their consent. Officials in the Ministry of Defence are currently in the process of seeking their agreement and if it is obtained a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

European Fighter Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Indian government on the sale of tranche 3 Typhoon aircrafts; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Luff: The German Government are leading on the export campaign to supply Typhoon to satisfy the Indian Air Force Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft competition. The UK Government, through UK Trade and Investment Defence Sales Organisation and the Ministry of Defence, is supporting this campaign. As part of a ministerial delegation of the Typhoon Partner Nations, I attended the Aero-India 2011 air show in Bangalore in February 2011. While there, I had several meetings with Indian defence ministers and senior officials in support of the Typhoon export campaign. In addition, the Secretary of State for Defence, the right hon. Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox), raised Typhoon with his Indian interlocutors during his visit in November 2010.

France: Nuclear Weapons

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the proposed UK-France treaty on nuclear weapons co-operation, from what date military flights between the UK and France transporting nuclear materials are to commence; and what the proposed flight path of this transport route will be.

Liam Fox: The proposed UK-France treaty on nuclear weapons co-operation provides for the transport of nuclear material between the two countries. No dates or flight paths have yet been agreed but details of such flights would be likely to be withheld for the purpose of safeguarding national security.

Frigates

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what capabilities the  (a) Type-22 and  (b) Type-23 frigate has to act as a flagship.

Peter Luff: The Type 22 frigate can embark a Task Group Commander's staff, able to command small scale joint and maritime operations. The Type 23 frigate does not have the capability or configuration to act as flagship and is not tasked in this way. The new Type 45 destroyers have been designed with the capacity to undertake the flagship role.
	A flagship, currently HMS Albion, is always assigned to the Commander UK Task Group.

Germany: Military Bases

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department will be required to make any payments to the German government under the NATO Status of Forces Agreement and its supplementary agreement in connection with the vacation of military bases in Germany.

Nick Harvey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 31 January 2011,  Official Report, columns 582-3, to the hon. Member for Easington (Grahame M. Morris).

Germany: Military Bases

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated cost to the public purse is of maintaining and operating bases in Germany in 2010-11.

Nick Harvey: The estimated cost to the public purse of maintaining and operating bases in Germany in 2010-11 is approximately £190 million.

Germany: Military Bases

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information his Department holds on the relative costs of basing a soldier in  (a) Germany and  (b) the UK.

Nick Harvey: The Ministry of Defence holds information on the capitation costs of individual soldiers. This includes their pay, National insurance and pension contributions. This basic cost of a soldier in Germany is comparable to that of a soldier in the UK. Soldiers based in Germany are also paid a local overseas allowance which is calculated according to their rank and personal circumstances.
	All soldiers will receive other allowances in addition to their basic pay which are dependent on their personal circumstances and are not directly affected by their posting location.

Libya: Diplomatic Service

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates he discussed the recent diplomatic mission to eastern Libya with the  (a) Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and  (b) Prime Minister.

Liam Fox: holding answer 14 March 2011
	 I refer the hon. Member to the statement given by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), to the House on 7 March 2011,  Official Report, columns 643-45. Throughout the current situation in Libya there have been frequent ministerial level meetings, including COBR, where I and my Cabinet colleagues have discussed the Government's response to the crisis.

Libya: Diplomatic Service

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date he received the submission outlining the intention of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to send a diplomatic mission to eastern Libya.

Liam Fox: holding answer 14 March 2011
	 I refer the hon. Member to the statement given by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), to the House on 7 March 2011,  Official Report, columns 643-45. Throughout the current situation in Libya there have been frequent ministerial level meetings, including COBR, where I and my Cabinet colleagues have discussed Her Majesty's Government's response to the crisis. As part of this, there was regular communication between Whitehall Departments including between the Ministry of Defence and Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Libya: HMS Cumberland

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what days HMS Cumberland has  (a) been docked in Benghazi Port and  (b) been deployed in Libyan territorial waters in 2011; and what the cost to the public purse of such actions has been to date.

Liam Fox: holding answer 14 March 2011
	In 2011, HMS Cumberland was docked in Benghazi port, and deployed in Libyan territorial waters, on Thursday 24 February, Sunday 27 February, and Sunday 6 March during which time she evacuated over 400 entitled persons including over 120 British nationals. The additional costs of the recent deployment to Libya are currently being assessed.

Libya: Special Forces

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contribution  (a) he and  (b) other Ministers in his Department made to the Government's policy on the deployment of special forces in Libya.

Liam Fox: holding answer 14 March 2011
	As the hon. Member should be aware, the Ministry of Defence has a long-standing policy of not commenting on matters concerning Special Forces.

Military Bases

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which barracks his Department is considering for sale or demolition as part of the proposed rationalisation of the defence estate arising from the outcome of the strategic defence and security review.

Andrew Robathan: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) keeps its estate under constant review to meet present and planned future requirements, with a view to demolition or disposal of surplus assets as quickly as possible in accordance with Treasury Guidelines (Managing Public Money Annex 4.8). Work is currently ongoing with each of the armed forces to identify additional estate rationalisation opportunities in accordance with the strategic defence and security review and is due to report in the summer.
	The new Defence Infrastructure Organisation will create a single delivery organisation responsible for all infrastructure projects, estates and property management including the 'soft' facilities management such as catering, cleaning and reception services. This approach will better balance defence requirements against available resources and help provide improved support to the delivery of military capability. The change will enable the MOD to identify further opportunities to rationalise, utilise or better manage the estate leading to reductions in estate contract and utility costs of £160 million a year by 2014 and estate disposal receipts of over £500 million during the next four years.

Nimrod Aircraft

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the merits of using Nimrod MRA4 aircraft for monitoring flights over the Mediterranean, Libya and North Africa.

Liam Fox: holding answer 16 March 2011
	None, The Strategic Defence and Security Review decision not to bring it into service precludes its use in any Defence role.

Nuclear Submarines: Decommissioning

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his most recent estimate is of the projected  (a) discounted and  (b) undiscounted nuclear decommissioning costs for the seven Astute-class submarines.

Peter Luff: The Submarine Dismantling Project (SDP) is developing a cost model to inform its planning for the disposal of 27 of the UK's nuclear submarines. The scope of the SDP covers past and current classes, excluding the Astute class, but the project's cost modelling work is intended to inform the development of similar costs for the Astute class. Accordingly, it is not yet possible to provide estimated costs for the Astute class.

Radioactive Materials: Transport

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  on what date the safety case for the new truck cargo heavy duty mark 3 vehicle was approved;
	(2)  on what date the truck cargo heavy duty mark 3 vehicle will enter into service;
	(3)  on what date the truck cargo heavy duty mark 3 vehicle will replace the former high security vehicles on duties requiring the transport of special nuclear materials;
	(4)  whether the practice of displaying radioactive materials hazard warning signs on vehicles carrying special nuclear materials will continue when the truck cargo heavy duty mark 3 vehicle enters into service.

Peter Luff: On current plans, the safety case for the new Truck Cargo Heavy Duty (TCHD) Mark 3 vehicle is expected to be approved in June 2011 ahead of entry into service later in the summer.
	It is then planned to commence the replacement of the High Security Vehicle with the TCHD Mark 3 in spring 2012.
	The decision on whether to display radioactive materials hazard warning signs on TCHD Mark 3 has not yet been taken.

Special Forces

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Minister in his Department approved the use of special forces in operations in Libya on 4 March 2011.

Liam Fox: As the hon. Member should be aware, the Ministry of Defence has a long standing policy of not commenting on matters concerning Special Forces.

Special Forces

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedure is followed in his Department for Ministerial clearance for the deployment of UK armed forces.

Liam Fox: The Royal Prerogative provides the mechanism by which the UK Armed Forces can be deployed. The Defence Council, which I chair, provides the formal legal basis for the conduct of Defence in the UK through a range of powers vested in it by Parliament, through statute, and Her Majesty, through Letters Patent and known as prerogative powers.
	For overseas operations the political decision to deploy the Armed Forces rests with my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and the Cabinet through their exercise of the Royal Prerogative.

Strategic Defence and Security Review

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the strategic defence and security review, which capabilities to counter explosive ordnance and improvised explosive devices will receive increased funding from his Department in each year of the comprehensive spending review period.

Peter Luff: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 30 November 2010,  Official Report, column 746W.

Strategic Defence and Security Review

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what equipment will be  (a) sold  (b) decommissioned and  (c) deleted as a result of the commitment in the Strategic Defence and Security Review to rationalise wider equipment holdings.

Peter Luff: This undertaking refers to equipment holdings within Land Forces which were not specifically addressed in the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR), unlike vehicle types like AS90 heavy artillery and Challenger 2 main battle tanks.
	Full details of the changes in wider equipment holdings are being prepared as part of the work of SDSR implementation and will be available in due course.

Trident

Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent  (a) in total and  (b) on (i) design, (ii) purchase of materials and (iii) other categories of expenditure on Trident in each of the last three years.

Peter Luff: I have interpreted this question as relating to the programme to replace the Vanguard class submarines.
	Expenditure on this programme for the past three years is as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			   FY 2008-09  FY 2009-10  FY 2010-11 (to end February)  Total 
			 Design in support of Concept and Common Missile Compartment 121.1 264.4 188.4 573.9 
			 Purchase of materials - - 6.0 6.0 
			 Other categories of expenditure 17.7 24.9 24.7 67.3 
			 Total647.2 
		
	
	The bulk of this expenditure has been on design and research activity including technical development programmes to inform the options presented in the initial gate business case. Work undertaken during the concept and assessment phases will provide a robust evidence base on which the Government can take decisions, and in the event of a main gate decision with a like-for-like alternative, the programme will be able to deliver on time and to budget.

WE 177 Nuclear Bomb

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to the public purse of the WE.177 missile programme was  (a) in cash terms and  (b) in 2011 prices up to the date of its withdrawal from service; and what the cost of procurement of each missile was.

Peter Luff: I will write to the hon. Member, as the information requested may take some time to retrieve from archive.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Ofcom: Consultants

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 11 February 2011,  Official Report, column 472W, on Ofcom: consultants, on what services Ofcom's £6.7 million expenditure in 2009-10 on consultancy professional specialist was spent; which companies provided each such service; how many hours each such provider worked on the provision of such services; and what estimate he has made of the number of staff involved in provision of such services.

Edward Vaizey: holding answer 14 March 2011
	Ofcom made use of 163 professional consultancies (non-procurement framework) in 2009-10 as part of its overall annual programme of work. The table sets out the suppliers used, the services provided and the total sums paid.
	Information provided to Ofcom as part of a tendering process is commercially sensitive. Ofcom is unable to provide a more detailed breakdown of the number of hours worked and staff provided by each supplier since disclosure of this may compromise future tendering processes.
	
		
			  Vendor  Description  Total (£) 
			 3 Reasons Ltd Media and telecoms strategy advice 5,288 
			 Advanced Top Development & Images Technical Spectrum advice 237,763 
			 Aegis Systems Ltd Spectrum technology research 17,250 
			 Aidan Elliott Internal communications advice and implementation 1,691 
			 Alan Fellows Associates Ltd Technical Spectrum advice 3,856 
			 Alderman Limited Strategic regulation advice 2,875 
			 Allen & Overy Commercial and procurement advice (142) 
			 Alterian (Newbury) Ltd Media consultancy 546 
			 AMTEC Consulting Plc IS programming 30,761 
			 Analysys Mason Ltd TV technical, economic and policy advice 39,721 
			 Andrew Chesher Broadcasting policy relating consultancy 1,380 
			 AON Ltd (Redhill) Insurance related services 5,575 
			 Arqiva Spectrum clearance activities, planning and advice 1,285,667 
			 Artemis International Corporation Ltd Software solutions 1,035 
			 Atner Associates Ltd TV policy advice 1,500 
			 BAFTA Management Ltd Telecoms policy advice 12,938 
			 Barclay Associates Ltd Spectrum related advice 9,979 
			 BDG workfutures Premises advice 3,495 
			 BDO Stoy Hayward LLP Tax advice, telecoms accounting advice, and spectrum clearance advice 70,186 
			 Bentley Associates Investigations advice 9,720 
			 Best Foot Forward Ltd Carbon audit and ecological footprint 16,172 
			 Bloomberg LP Accounting and market data services 12,344 
			 Blue Moth Ltd Spectrum technical advice 52,420 
			 Bob Foss Strategic Spectrum advice 78,120 
			 Bristows Spectrum clearance advice 88,038 
			 British Broadcasting Corporation Spectrum clearance planning, activities and advice 77,378 
			 Canaleon Ltd Technical Spectrum clearance advice 50,517 
			 Capgemini IS technical work (23,966) 
			 Cary Bazalgette Media literacy advice 1,000 
			 Central Office of Information Marketing and communication 4,053 
			 Change Agency (UK) Ltd Consultancy for digital participation consortium 100,196 
			 Claire Milne Antelope Consulting Telecoms policy consultancy 5,980 
			 Clarus Design Consultancy Ltd Design work 932 
			 Cleo Sylvestre Diversity research 350 
			 Cromwell Associates Ltd Site inspection 86 
			 David G. Money Spectrum clearance advice 23,163 
			 Deloitte & Touche LLP Spectrum clearance activities, advice and planning 412,772 
			 Denton Business Services Ltd Premises advice 4,370 
			 Digital UK Spectrum clearance activities 144,432 
			 Dotecon Ltd Spectrum auction expertise 31,630 
			 Dotted Eyes Ltd Software solutions 3,835 
			 E2 Systems Ltd IS Testing (6,169) 
			 Edward Rushton Telecoms strategy advice 58,649 
			 eGourmet Ltd Telecoms consumer research 24,071 
			 Ember Services Ltd Telecoms policy consultancy 12,741 
			 Enders Analysis Ltd Media strategy advice and research 5,001 
			 ERA Technology Ltd Technical Spectrum work and technology research 96,094 
			 Erkmar Ltd Technical equipment advice 19,123 
			 ETC Venues Ltd Premises activities 1,139 
			 Europa Technologies Ltd Technology research 2,760 
			 Europe Economics Spectrum economic advice 58,069 
			 European Policy Forum Telecoms policy advice 17,250 
			 Euro-Tec Investigations activities 4,661 
			 Fishburn Hedges Boys Williams Ltd Spectrum clearance activities 66,717 
			 Fletcher Priest Architects LLP Premises advice 4,893 
			 Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Translation services 5,447 
			 Forman Computer Staff Ltd IS software solutions and activities 72,750 
			 Frank B. Dehn & Co. Legal intellectual property advice 6,831 
			 Frank Verboven Mobile and TV economic advice 5,005 
			 George & Lennard Associates Telecoms research and policy analysis (583) 
			 GfK NOP Media Consumer research 23,316 
			 GfK Retail and Technology UK Ltd Telecoms market research 6,986 
			 GR Media UK Ltd Media research 20,470 
			 Grant Dawe LLP Legal advice for investigations 2,644 
			 Grapevine Search & Selection Ltd Office support temp search (27) 
			 Harry McConnell HR employment advice 14,526 
			 Hays Office Support IS programmers 72,080 
			 Helios Technology Ltd Technical Spectrum advice 46,138 
			 I.D.AT.E. Telecoms market data and research 40,583 
			 i2 Media Research Ltd Spectrum consumer research 26,738 
			 Ian Cooper Competition pensions advice 45,928 
			 iBurbia Limited Media research and advice 14,488 
			 IDC UK Ltd Media research, data and advice 5,750 
			 Ideas Unlimited TV Ltd Technology research and advice 10,120 
			 IET Services Ltd Technical networks forum 8,813 
			 Institution of Engineering & Techno Programme management activities 29,622 
			 Isotek Electronics Ltd Spectrum technology research 793 
			 Item Consulting & Services Ltd Design work 1,380 
			 Ivetsey Communications Ltd BT adjudicator 415,786 
			 Julian Franks Financial telecoms consulting 19,690 
			 Knight Frank LLP Premises activities 760 
			 KPMG LLP Economic analysis, and internal audit work 49,577 
			 Lane Clark & Peacock LLP Pensions advice (695) 
			 Law Debenture Pension Trust Corporation Professional pension trustee governance 139,379 
			 LECG Ltd Economic analysis 35,511 
			 Lizloenard Media Media literacy work 7,361 
			 London Economics Economic analysis and research 110,225 
			 LS Telcom AG IS programming and support 206,376 
			 Maritime Spectrum Working Group Technical Spectrum advice 2,115 
			 Mayer Brown International LLP Pension advice 14,278 
			 McGrigors Belfast LLP Procurement and commercial advice 10,763 
			 Mediatique Ltd Strategy and research advice 92,384 
			 Meeting Deadlines Ltd Software solution 1,610 
			 Mercer (Switzerland) SA Consultancy 700 
			 Merrill Legal Solutions Legal support 717 
			 Milner Company Marketing LLP Spectrum market analysis 6,239 
			 Mitie Ltd Premises equipment and activities 1,293 
			 Morgan Stanley & Co Ltd Spectrum activities (61,656) 
			 Mott MacDonald Ltd Technology research 17,396 
			 MTM London Ltd Media and market analysis 46,000 
			 National Audit Office Audit of IFRS trigger point 4 13,000 
			 National Economic Research Association Economic analysis 2,838 
			 NCC Services Ltd IS support services 36,686 
			 NICC Standards Ltd Technical networks forum (1,294) 
			 Northgate Payroll solutions provider (40) 
			 Official Charts Company Media analysis 2,644 
			 Oliva Lawson Internal communications analysis 1,800 
			 Oliver & Ohlbaum Associates Ltd Media analysis and research 48,751 
			 Opinion Leader Research Ltd Consumer research 20,007 
			 Oracle Corporation UK Ltd Software solutions (1,829) 
			 Osirian Consulting Ltd IS programming and support 16,513 
			 Outsights Ltd Sector analysis and research 17,250 
			 Ovum Ltd Strategy and market analysis 17,625 
			 PA Consulting Group IS support and programme management advice 449,362 
			 Parity Resources Ltd IT system services 130,931 
			 Peter Cramton Spectrum economic analysis 5,485 
			 PFT Ltd Employee and pensions advice 6,550 
			 Pharos 8 Ltd Organisational development 2,645 
			 Phil Davidson Associates Spectrum activities 29,991 
			 Planned Action Ltd Insurance advice 1,380 
			 Plum Consulting Spectrum technology research 44,100 
			 Progressive Computer Recruitment Ltd IS resource solutions 44,291 
			 Pure Pricing Ltd Economic analysis 10,575 
			 QCG Ltd HR consultancy 3,819 
			 Quiddity Solutions HR development advice 758 
			 Radio Systems Information Ltd Technical Spectrum advice 7,259 
			 Rational Energy Ltd Economic analysis 525 
			 Real Wireless Ltd Technical Spectrum advice 177,315 
			 Richard Carter Telecoms policy advice 166 
			 RKnight Consulting Ltd Spectrum clearance activities 32,746 
			 Ruth Evans Consumer representation following postal services integration 1,120 
			 SamKnows Ltd Telecoms market data and analysis 107,334 
			 Saxonbury Services Ltd HR Development advice 5,988 
			 Secured by Design Ltd Security design activities 2,465 
			 Selex Sistemi Integration Ltd Technology research 63,043 
			 Sherbourne Consultancy Organisational development activates 8,671 
			 Sian Evans Media consultancy 24,513 
			 Simon Carne Competition pensions advice 21,554 
			 Simon Fonebi Licensing analysis 19,650 
			 Smith Institute Software testing of Spectrum auction platform 32,633 
			 Specialist Computer Centres Software solutions activities 3,105 
			 Spitfire Communications Limited Diversity advice 3,910 
			 Square One Resources Ltd IS Temp support 15,606 
			 Stern Consultancy Ltd Catering management advice (8) 
			 Steve Carter Telecoms technical activities 59,300 
			 Steven J. Barnett Media analysis 2,400 
			 Strategic IT Consulting IS systems advice 34,870 
			 Strategy Analytics (SA Teligen) Market research 43,125 
			 Sweet & Maxwell Ltd HR data and analysis 549 
			 Synovate Ltd Consumer research 103,458 
			 Thales Research & Technology (UK) Ltd Spectrum technical research 21,151 
			 The Brattle Group Economic analysis 11,801 
			 The Writer Ltd Editing consultancy 2,964 
			 Think Indigo PC support 1,725 
			 Tommaso Valletti Economic analysis 7,868 
			 Total Conflict Management Ltd HR advice 6,363 
			 Total Reporting & Quality Solutions Operations analysis 15,532 
			 Towers Watson Pensions and actuarial advice 621,151 
			 TrinityStar Services Ltd Technical Spectrum advice 995 
			 University of Warwick Economic analysis 45,799 
			 User37 Ltd Media activities 74,395 
			 Verint Systems UK Ltd IS analysis 58,225 
			 Watermark & Co. Consumer panel policy advice 15,275 
			 Journal: Re-categorisation of cost for IS transformation programme Journal: Re-categorisation of cost for IS transformation programme (597,042) 
			 Journal: Re-categorisation of costs for Olympics Programme Journal: Re-categorisation of costs for Olympics Programme (58,317) 
			 Journal: Accounting adjustments Journal: Accounting adjustments (1,101) 
			   6,667,426

Arts: Finance

Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much Arts Council England spent on grants to projects in 2009-10.

Edward Vaizey: Arts Council England has supplied 2009-10 grant spend, which includes both grants to projects and to regularly funded organisations, as follows:
	
		
			  Projects  £000 
			 Net grant in aid commitments (including regular funding to organisations) 417,555 
			 Net lottery grant commitments 143,203 
			 Total 560,758

Broadband: Contracts

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many local authorities have issued tender documents for contracts to provide high-speed broadband services to date.

Edward Vaizey: holding answer 15 March 2011
	In recent years a number of local authorities have issued tenders for contracts to provide high speed broadband, which vary in scale and in some instances the procurement was for an exclusive public sector network (PSNs) and in others there was provision for wider use. Since responsibility lies with the local procuring authority there was no requirement to notify individual procurements and while Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) are aware of the major PSNs and public initiatives by local authorities there is no central record of every small scale local procurement.

Broadband: Contracts

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many local authorities in England have issued tenders for contracts for the provision of high-speed broadband.

Edward Vaizey: In recent years a number of local authorities have issued tenders for contracts to provide high speed broadband, which vary in scale and in some instances the procurement was for an exclusive public sector network (PSNs) and in others there was provision for wider use. Since responsibility lies with the local procuring authority there was no requirement to notify individual procurements and while Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) are aware of the major PSNs and public initiatives by local authorities there is no central record of every local procurement.

Broadband: Contracts

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what plans he has for local authorities to issue tenders for contracts for the provision of high-speed broadband in England.

Edward Vaizey: Responsibility for contract tenders lies with the local procuring authorities. Guidance on the content of local broadband plans which are to form the basis of a submission to Broadband Delivery UK was issued on 7 March 2011.

Broadband: Scotland

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2011,  Official Report, column 611W, on broadband: public expenditure, what assessment he has made of the effects on the pilot project in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland of restrictions on the use of BT's ducts and poles.

Edward Vaizey: holding answer 14 March 2011
	No such assessment has been made. The Highlands and Islands project will be subject to open procurement procedures which have to be technology neutral. British Telecom's (BT) ducts and poles are being made available for use by competitors. Reference offers were submitted by BT in January and these are the subject of industry consultation at the moment

Departmental Assets

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether receipts from the sale of assets owned by regional development agencies are reflected in the spending plans of his Department for  (a) 2012-13 and  (b) 2013-14.

John Penrose: The Department does not benefit from any sale of assets by regional development agencies and has not made any assumption of receipts from them in its spending plans.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much his Department has spent on  (a) salaries and  (b) pension entitlements for special advisers in the financial year 2010-11 to date.

John Penrose: Special advisers pay bands and actual salary, where this is £58,200 or higher, are published by the Cabinet Office in accordance with the Government's transparency agenda and can be found at the following link:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/special-adviser-data-releases
	Special advisers salaries are pensionable under the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme.

Departmental Procurement

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how many procurement projects with a monetary value greater than  (a) £10 million,  (b) £50 million and  (c) £100 million (i) his Department and (ii) each non-departmental public body and agency for which he is responsible was engaged upon in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  which procurement projects engaged upon by  (a) his Department and  (b) each non-departmental public body and agency for which he is responsible had a designated senior responsible owner in the latest period for which figures are available; and on what date each officer was appointed in each such case.

John Penrose: The Department has not engaged upon any procurement projects with a monetary value greater than £10 million in 2009-10 and 2010-11 (to date).
	The Department does not collate this information for its agency or non-departmental public bodies. Accordingly, I have asked their chief executives to write to my hon. Friend.
	Copies of the replies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Departmental Public Consultation

Alok Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many public consultations his Department has conducted in each of the last 10 years; for how long each consultation was open; how many responses were received to each consultation; and what the cost to the public purse of conducting each consultation was.

John Penrose: There have been 185 Department consultations since 2000, information can be accessed on our current website and UK Government web archive:
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/consultations/default.aspx
	The number of responses from May 2010 are available at:
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/consultations/6566.aspx
	Responses before May 2010 and all costs are not held centrally and it would be at disproportionate cost to collate this information for the last 10 years.

Departmental Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what regulations his Department  (a) introduced between 4 February and 28 February 2011 and  (b) repealed between 2 February and 28 February 2011.

John Penrose: The following instruments sponsored by the Department have been made between 2 February and 28 February 2011:
	1. The Films Co-Production Agreements (Amendment) Order 2011 (SI 2011/236); and
	2. The Horserace Betting and Olympic Lottery Act 2004 (Commencement No.4) Order 2011 (SI 2011/462 (C.17)).
	During the same period the following instrument was revoked:
	1. The Films Co-Production Agreements (Amendment) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/3009).

Departmental Written Questions

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what proportion of written questions tabled to him for answer on a named day did not receive a substantive answer on the day named for answer between 27 May 2010 and 9 March 2011.

John Penrose: The Department received 271 named day questions for answer during the period between 27 May 2010 and 9 March 2011. Of these 56 (20.66%) did not receive a substantive answer on the named day. The Department is very aware of the importance of answering parliamentary questions on time and we endeavour to answer all named day parliamentary questions on the day specified but if this is not possible then we aim to send out a substantive reply as soon as is practicable.
	"The Government has committed to providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to Written Parliamentary Question performance on a sessional basis. Statistics relating to Government Department's performance for the 2009/10 session were recently provided to the committee and are available on the Parliament website."

Gambling

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he plans to respond to his Department's consultation on remote gambling; and if he will make a statement.

John Penrose: I continue to speak to key stakeholders about the issues raised in the Department's consultation and hope to make an announcement in due course.

Holiday Accommodation: Standards

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  with reference to the Government Tourism Policy of March 2011, what assessment he has made of the likely future availability across the UK of accurate information relating to the facilities and performance of self-catering holiday properties under his proposals for accommodation quality rating schemes;
	(2)  with reference to the Government Tourism Policy of March 2011, what assessment he has made of the  (a) market penetration,  (b) accuracy and  (c) reliability of information relating to self-catering accommodation posted on visitor accommodation websites with user-generated content;
	(3)  with reference to the Government Tourism Policy of March 2011, whether he has assessed the potential vulnerability to malware of hotel review websites with user-generated content;
	(4)  with reference to the Government Tourism Policy of March 2011, what mechanisms he plans to use to set benchmarks for  (a) improvements in standards of visitor accommodation and  (b) quality comparisons between the UK and its constituent parts and overseas;
	(5)  with reference to the Government Tourism Policy of March 2011, what assessment he has made of the contribution of Hospitality Assured accreditation to the objectives of National Tourist Boards in respect of the visitor economy;
	(6)  with reference to the Government Tourism Policy of March 2011, what the quantitative evidential basis is for the assessment that consumer-led websites offer significant potential to drive up standards; and what measures he plans to use to measure consequent trends in hotel standards.

John Penrose: Pursuant to my answer of 2 February 2011,  Official Report, column 819W, and the Westminster Hall debate on 15 February 2011, tourism is a devolved matter and the operation of the quality schemes in each of the home countries is a matter for their respective Governments. As made clear in the Government's Tourism Policy published on 4 March, we do not intend to abolish the rating schemes in England, but given the number of participants in the schemes in recent years, particularly in the guest accommodation sector, the Government believe a different approach needs to be considered in order to help drive up quality. We strongly believe that both the tourism industry and consumers should take more responsibility for quality assessment. This includes tracking changes in trends in quality, if the information is commercially useful to them or to their customers; if it isn't then there's no point in Government doing it instead.
	The wide and growing popularity of websites offering feedback from customers is clear from industry figures on their usage. Their content is not regulated any more closely than any other part of the web, and we have no plans to do so. Web users make their own judgments about the quality and accuracy of any information they find, and rapidly switch to alternative sites if they offer something better.
	The Government will continue to give encouragement to any rating schemes or customer websites which improve the quality of information which visitors can use.

Irish Language

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what progress he has made in his Department's responsibilities for language maintenance and development under the European Charter for Minority or Indigenous Languages in respect of the Irish language.

Edward Vaizey: holding answer 16 March 2011
	The Communications Act (2003) and the BBC's Charter and Agreement contain requirements to cater for cultural interests throughout the UK.
	The 1998 Belfast/Good Friday agreement contained the obligation to extend the Irish language channel TG4 to audiences in Northern Ireland. In February 2010, the UK and Irish Government signed a memorandum of understanding designed to ensure co-operation over digital switchover and the provision of Irish language services in Northern Ireland in a digital form. Since then considerable progress has been made in making arrangements with the Irish authorities for the broadcasting of TG4, an Irish language television service, in digital form in Northern Ireland to coincide with digital switchover in the latter part of 2012.

Members: Correspondence

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Bridgend of 23 November 2010, reference MM/JH/22/11/2010.

John Penrose: The Department has conducted a thorough check and has no record of receiving this letter. If the hon. Member could submit a copy of her letter I will ensure a timely response is sent.

Ofcom: Legal Costs

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport with reference to Ofcom's supplementary written evidence to the Public Accounts Committee on expenditure 2009-10, with which companies the  (a) £0.8 million expenditure on legal non-policy and  (b) £0.6 million on legal policy was spent; and what services were provided to Ofcom as a result of such expenditure.

Edward Vaizey: holding answer 14 March 2011
	 Ofcom have advised that the companies involved in expenditure of this nature are set out in the table:
	
		
			  Supplier  Total (£)  Note 
			 ABV Solicitors 16,595 The legal policy(1) 
			 Allen & Overy 197,416 Employment law 
			 Allen Hirson 1,035 The legal policy(1) 
			 Blackstone Chambers 345 The legal policy(1) 
			 Bristows 83,769 The legal policy(1) 
			 Burges Salmon LLP 66,388 The legal policy(1) 
			 Chambers of Michael Hubbard 17,300 The legal policy(1) 
			 Clarke Willmot (2,874) Property law 
			 Collyer Bristow LLP Solicitors 56,805 Property law 
			 Denton Wilde Sapte 5,499 Property law 
			 E Rex Makin & Co. 667 The legal policy(1) 
			 Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer 55,219 Employment law 
			 Her Majesty's Courts Service 2,090 The legal policy(1) 
			 John McCormack 5,151 The legal policy(1) 
			 Johnson & Gaunt Solicitors 403 Employment law 
			 Lane Clark & Peacock LLP 8,775 Pension advice 
			 Lester Maddrell 7,171 The legal policy(1) 
			 MacRoberts LLP (38) Property law 
			 McGrigors Belfast LLP 155,729 Commercial and Procurement advice 
			 Monckton Chambers 426 The legal policy(1) 
			 Nabarro LLP 22,152 Commercial and Procurement advice 
			 Norrie Waite and Slater Solicitors 1,202 The legal policy(1) 
			 Russell Jones & Walker 2,875 Employment law 
			 SNR Denton UK LLP (975) Property law 
			 Spence & Home Solicitors 403 Employment law 
			 Sweet & Maxwell Ltd. 600 Employment law 
			 Towers Watson 40,989 Pension advice 
			 Underwood & Co. (6,165) Property law 
			 Accounting adjustments 32,815 Accruals and adjustments 
			 Total legal (non policy) 771,765  
		
	
	
		
			  Supplier  Total (£)  Note 
			 Allen & Overy (28,920) Employment law 
			 Arnold & Porter UK LLP 9,083 The legal policy(1) 
			 Blackstone Chambers 209,206 The legal policy(1) 
			 Brick Court Chambers 25,034 The legal policy(1) 
			 Denton Wilde Sapte 881 Debt collection advice 
			 Cough Square Chambers 23,407 The legal policy(1) 
			 Grant Dawe LLP 7,203 The legal policy(1) 
			 Julian Franks 13,294 The legal policy(1) 
			 Keltie 1,436 The legal policy(1) 
			 Ken Baublys 525 The legal policy(1) 
			 LS Telcom (2,013) IS services 
			 Maples and Calder 174 The legal policy(1) 
			 Merrill Legal Solutions 557 The legal policy(1) 
			 Michael Simkins LLP 14,722 The legal policy(1) 
			 Monckton Chambers 544,667 The legal policy(1) 
			 Nabarro LLP 42,433 Commercial and Procurement advice 
			 Prodigy internet Ltd (1,639) The legal policy(1) 
			 Simmons & Simmons 4,593 The legal policy(1) 
			 Taylor Wessing LLP. 1,438 The legal policy(1) 
			 Underwood & Co 1,880 Property law 
			 Accounting adjustments (139,348) Accruals adjustments 
			 Net costs awarded in favour of Ofcom (122,822) Net costs awarded to Ofcom 
			 One Brick Court 8,049 The legal policy(1) 
			 Total legal (policy) 613,841 The legal policy(1) 
			
			 Total legal 1,385,606  
			 (1) The legal policy expenditure comprises: External counsel to assist Ofcom's internal legal team in preparing for and defending appeals against Ofcom's public policy decisions and to appear as representatives for Ofcom in courts; A lesser amount is spend on securing a second opinion to that of Ofcom's internal legal team and general counsel on particularly complex questions of statutory interpretation.

Ofcom: Official Hospitality

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport with reference to Ofcom's supplementary written evidence to the Public Accounts Committee on expenditure 2009-10, with which companies the £1.8 million expenditure on outsourcing special events was spent; and what services were provided to Ofcom as a result of such expenditure.

Edward Vaizey: holding answer 14 March 2011
	Under the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994, Ofcom has put in place an agreement with JFMG Ltd for the provision of spectrum licensing services in respect of Programme Making and Special Events (PMSE). The Contracting Out (Functions relating to Wireless Telegraphy) Order 1996 (SI 1996 no. 2290) enables this arrangement. License fees collected by JFMG Ltd under the Wireless Telegraphy Act are passed to the Consolidated Fund. Ofcom are invoiced by JFMC Ltd for this activity in line with the terms of the agreement. Ofcom paid £1.8 million (including VAT) to JFMC Ltd during the course of 2009-10 under this agreement.

Sports: Dartford

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether his Department is taking steps to support grassroots and community sport in Dartford constituency.

Hugh Robertson: Sport England is the arm's length body with responsibility for community sport. Their aim is to increase and sustain levels of participation in sport.
	National Governing Bodies of sport are responsible for the strategy, delivering through their networks of community clubs, coaches and volunteers, across all parts of the country. Sport England is investing £480 million through 46 governing bodies over the next four years and has agreed 'grow' and 'sustain' targets with each one. Each sport has developed a whole sport plan to achieve these targets.
	Additionally, the £135 million Mass Participation Olympic Legacy-Places People Play-was launched in November 2010 and will benefit residents of Dartford and the country more widely. This programme will be funded by lottery money and has been developed in partnership with Sport England, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the British Olympic Association, and the British Paralympic Association.
	As part of their Iconic Facilities programme, Sport England has invested £1 million towards the development of a 43 hectare sports park to offer a comprehensive range of cycle sport disciplines and other related sports. The Kent county council led project will be of direct benefit to the Dartford constituents, located close to the A2 to the south of Gravesend.
	In addition, since 2001, the Dartford constituency has seen a total of £861,370 of Exchequer funding and £102,503 of lottery funding invested through Sport England.

Tourism: Public Holidays

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  with reference to the Government Tourism Policy of March 2011, whether he has undertaken an assessment of the potential asymmetrical effects on tourism businesses in different parts of the UK of moving the May day bank holiday to October;
	(2)  what steps he plans to take to measure the  (a) visitor preference and  (b) projected revenue for the visitor economy associated with the proposed move of the May day bank holiday to October; and whether he plans to market-test the popularity of the proposal and the proposed designations for the October holiday in (i) Scotland, (ii) England, (iii) Wales and (iv) Northern Ireland;
	(3)  whether he plans to take account of the traditional pattern of school holidays in the autumn in Scotland when assessing the  (a) merits and  (b) likely effect on tourism businesses of moving the May day bank holiday to October.

John Penrose: The Government recognise that the May day bank holiday is important to many, which is why we are planning to consult with all sectors of industry as well as with voluntary and community sector organisations, to assess any potential benefits of moving it. The Government also understand the need to ensure that public holiday dates reflect the priorities and preferences of the whole of the UK. Consequently, we will consult with the devolved Administrations to ensure that changes to public holidays are made only if they are likely to enjoy widespread public support.

Tourism: Publications

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport for what reason the Government Tourism Policy published on 4 March 2011 was unavailable on his Department's website on the day of launch; and for what reason his Department has not supplied copies to the Vote Office for distribution to hon. Members.

John Penrose: Private sector publishing software failed outside the hours of technical support and nothing could be published to the website for a period of time. The problem could not be fixed by the Information and Communications Technology service managers and had to be referred to the software supplier. The strategy was published and available on the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's website from approximately 11am on 4 March 2011, which was as soon as the fix had been applied for the problem diagnosed.
	For reasons of cost savings and efficiency, the document was produced solely in digital form and no copies of the Government's Tourism Policy were therefore supplied to the Vote Office. The document may now be downloaded from the departmental website.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Counter-terrorism

Yvette Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects her Department's review of the Contest programme indicated in its business plan to begin.

Theresa May: holding answer 10 March 2011
	 Work to revise the Contest counter-terrorism strategy (action 6.4 of the Home Office business plan) started in November 2010.

Departmental Assets

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether receipts from the sale of assets owned by regional development agencies are reflected in the spending plans of her Department for  (a) 2012-13 and  (b) 2013-14.

Damian Green: The Home Office does not have any sales of assets owned by regional development agencies factored into its spending plans.

Departmental Public Consultation

Alok Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many public consultations her Department has conducted in each of the last 10 years; for how long each consultation was open; how many responses were received to each consultation; and what the cost to the public purse was of conducting each consultation.

Damian Green: According to the Home Office website:
	http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100418065544/http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/haveyoursay/index.html
	the following number of Home Office consultation papers have been selected for preservation by the National Archives:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2009 16 
			 2008 20 
			 2007 20 
			 2006 23 
			 2005 25 
			 2004 26 
			 2003 26 
			 2002 18 
			 2001 18 
			 2000 11 
		
	
	The website shows a snapshot of records taken on 5 March 2010 and in each case the consultation is listed according the calendar year in which the consultation closed rather than its date of publication. Figures for 2010 and 2011 are not centrally available.
	The Department does not keep a central record of how long each consultation was open, how many responses were received and the cost to the public purse. To attempt to calculate these for each of the 203 documents listed above would entail disproportionate costs.

Domestic Violence

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she plans to take to support victims of domestic violence.

Lynne Featherstone: The Government are committed to tackling domestic violence. On 8 March 2011 we published a detailed action plan supporting our Call to End Violence Against Women and Girls narrative published on 25 November 2010.
	Some of the key actions we are taking forward in relation to domestic violence include:
	Providing over £28 million of stable Home Office funding for specialist services to support victims of domestic and sexual abuse over the next four years. This includes areas to support independent domestic violence adviser (IDVA) posts, and the role of multi-agency risk assessment conference (MARAC) co-ordinators.
	We will make over £900,000 available per year over the next four years to support national helplines including the National Domestic Violence Helpline, the Men's Advice Line and Broken Rainbow.
	A 12 month pilot of Domestic Violence Protection Notices (DVPNs) and Domestic Violence Protection Orders (DVPOs).
	Support for victims of domestic violence who are on migrant spouse's visas and are forced to flee their home while their immigration claims are dealt with.
	Full details of the action plan can be found at:
	www.homeoffice.gov.uk/vawg

Firearms

Damian Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department between what dates the sodium rhodizonate test was used by the Metropolitan Police Forensic Science Laboratory to detect firearms discharge residue.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 15 March 2011
	 Sodium rhodizonate testing remains in use as a forensic technique. The Metropolitan Police Forensic Science Laboratory merged with the Forensic Science Service in 1996 and would have been using this test until that point. Information on the date that this test was introduced is not held by the Home Office. I have asked the Forensic Science Service to check their historical records and write to the hon. Member with the date when this test was introduced.

Human Trafficking

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has to implement Article 6 of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings in relation to the incorporation of study of human trafficking in statutory schooling.

Damian Green: The UK has an obligation under the Council of Europe Convention to provide educational programmes for young people during their schooling, emphasising the unacceptable nature of discrimination based on gender, the consequences thereof, gender equality and the dignity and integrity of every human being.
	The non-statutory framework for Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE) at Key Stages 3 and 4 provide opportunities for young people to explore such issues as:
	the similarities, differences and diversity among people of different race, culture, ability, disability, gender, age and sexual orientation;
	the impact of prejudice, bullying discrimination and racism on individuals and communities;
	characteristics of positive relationships, and awareness of exploitation in relationships and of statutory and voluntary organisations that support relationships in crisis; and,
	the need to take the initiative in challenging this and other offensive behaviours and in giving support to victims of abuse.

Human Trafficking

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has to take steps in accordance with the requirements of Article 5 of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings in the next 12 months.

Damian Green: We keep our compliance with the Council of Europe convention under review.
	Prevention of human trafficking will be a central part of the new strategy which will be published in the spring.

Imitation Firearms

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations her Department has received from  (a) police organisations,  (b) medical professionals and  (c) others on legislation on the sale, ownership and use of BB guns.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 14 March 2011
	 The term 'BB gun' is commonly used to refer to airsoft guns. The Home Office has received no recent formal representations on their sale, ownership and use. They are subject to the provisions of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 to the extent they are imitation firearms.

Northumbria Police: Overtime

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many overtime hours were paid to  (a) warranted officers and  (b) civilian staff of Northumbria Police Force in each of the last three years; and what the total cost to the public purse was of such overtime in each such year.

Nick Herbert: The Home Office does not hold information about the number of overtime hours worked by police officers and police staff. Data on the total amount of overtime paid to police officers and staff are published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). The data for Northumbria police in each of the three most recent financial years are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  £000 
			  Financial year  Officer overtime spend  Staff overtime spend 
			 2007-08 7,878 (1)1,318 
			 2008-09 7,424 1,178 
			 2009-10 8,138 1,159 
			 (1) Checked with Northumbria police.  Source: CIPFA Actuals

Passport Office: Closures

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the compliance of her Department's consultation on the closure of Newport Passport Office with the Government's code of practice on consultation.

Damian Green: The Identity and Passport Service is conducting a collective consultation with staff and trade unions on the proposed closure of the application processing centre at Newport. The consultation period ends on 18 March 2011 and has been carried out under the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, as amended by the Collective Redundancies and Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (Amendment) Regulations 1995. The consultation has followed the guidance issued by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) on conducting a collective consultation.

Police

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is her policy that after May 2012 chief constables should be able to enter into significant contracts without the prior authority of police commissioners.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 11 February2011
	 This is not the Government's intention. We are considering further the proposed arrangements for chief constables' ability to enter into contracts, in the light of debate on the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill, and representations on the issue.

Police

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will publish each response to her Department's consultation on Policing in the 21(st) Century.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 15 Mach 2011
	The Home Office has an obligation to those who responded to the consultation to review all responses and ensure any disclosure of information protects individuals' interests under the Data Protection Act 1998. As nearly 900 responses were received, it was estimated that the cost of analysing them in line with these obligations would be prohibitive. The Government published a consultation response, which summarised the responses and the Government's position on them. This is available on the Home Office website.

Police

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers in each police force hold the rank of sergeant.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 15 March 2011
	The latest available data are provided in the table which shows the number of police officers in each police force who hold the rank of sergeant as at 30 September 2010 (full-time equivalents).
	
		
			  The number of police officers in each police force who hold the rank of sergeant as at 30 September 2010 (full-time equivalents) 
			   Sergeant 
			 Avon and Somerset 484 
			 Bedfordshire 194 
			 Cambridgeshire 252 
			 Cheshire 353 
			 Cleveland 241 
			 Cumbria 187 
			 Derbyshire 316 
			 Devon and Cornwall 603 
			 Dorset 234 
			 Durham 225 
			 Dyfed-Powys 195 
			 Essex 540 
			 Gloucestershire 320 
			 Greater Manchester 1,160 
			 Gwent 234 
			 Hampshire 620 
			 Hertfordshire 318 
			 Humberside 306 
			 Kent 527 
			 Lancashire 594 
			 Leicestershire 358 
			 Lincolnshire 185 
			 London, City of 139 
			 Merseyside 665 
			 Metropolitan Police 5,558 
			 Norfolk 283 
			 Northamptonshire 225 
			 Northumbria 603 
			 North Wales 275 
			 North Yorkshire 207 
			 Nottinghamshire 408 
			 South Wales 516 
			 South Yorkshire 446 
			 Staffordshire 362 
			 Suffolk 206 
			 Surrey 293 
			 Sussex 542 
			 Thames Valley 690 
			 Warwickshire 130 
			 West Mercia 398 
			 West Midlands 1,206 
			 West Yorkshire 807 
			 Wiltshire 193 
			 Total 22,599 
			  Note: This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number.

Police: Firearms

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers in each police force had received up-to-date training in the use of firearms on the most recent date for which figures are available.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 15 March 2011
	The number of fully trained police authorised firearms officers by force in England and Wales are published annually. The latest publication for 2008-09 can be found at:
	http://tna.europarchive.org/20100419081706/http:// www.police.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/Police-firearms-2008-09.html

Police: Surveillance

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 14 February 2011,  Official Report, columns 519-20W, on police: investigations, 
	(1)  what procedural and interpretational advice and guidance the Office of Surveillance Commissioners has given regarding the type of organisations that should be subject to covert surveillance by undercover police officers; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  if she will review her Department's codes of practice in relation to the types of organisations which should be subject to undercover police operations; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  when she expects HM Inspectorate of Constabulary to complete its review of operational accountability of undercover work by the National Public Order Intelligence Unit; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Herbert: The Office of Surveillance Commissioners (OSC) is an independent body established by the Police Act 1996 and Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 to keep under review the authorisation of certain covert techniques regulated by those Acts. The OSC does not issue general guidance. Any specific guidance it gives to a particular public authority is confidential between it and that public authority.
	HM Inspectorate of Constabulary expects to complete its review into the operational accountability of undercover work by the National Public Order Intelligence Unit within the next three to six months. The Home Office will consider what appropriate action to take, including the appropriateness of reviewing codes of practice, following the conclusion of the review.

Police: Training

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers in each police force have current specialist traffic and vehicle training.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 15 March 2011
	This information is not collected centrally.

Police: Bureaucracy

Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will take steps to reduce the amount of duplication in the forms police officers are required to complete when responding to incidents.

Nick Herbert: The Government are looking at reducing duplication in police forms as part of its work to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy in policing. The police service must also play its part in cutting duplication within police forces.
	The Government have already scrapped the national reporting requirements for stop and account and reduced the reporting requirements for stop and search, which will save up to 800,000 man hours per year. We will continue to look at reducing duplication as part of our work to reduce bureaucracy in all areas of policing.

Refugees: Finance

Ben Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment her Department has made of the effect of proposed reductions in refugee integration funding on  (a) statutory and  (b) non-statutory services for refugees provided by (i) other Government departments, (ii) non-departmental public bodies and (iii) local authorities.

Damian Green: Individuals granted refugee status have full entitlement to access public funds and services. The impact of the reduction in funding on statutory and non statutory services provided by other Government Departments, non departmental public bodies and local authorities will therefore be minimal. UK Border Agency officials will be co-chairing a working group with the voluntary sector to identify practical cost neutral solutions to address the integration needs of refugees. The membership will include representatives from other Government Departments.

UK Border Agency: Sick Leave

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many days on average employees of the UK Border Agency have taken in sick leave in each year since its inception.

Damian Green: The rolling year average number of sick leave days per employee as at March 2010 was 9.16 days.
	The rolling year average number of sick leave days per employee as at December 2010 was 7.97 days
	Figures taken from the Home Office sick absence time series data for the Home Department.

Vandalism

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many instances of vandalism were reported in each police force area in England and Wales in each year since 1997.

James Brokenshire: The available information relates to offences of criminal damage recorded by the police and is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Offences of criminal damage recorded by the police in England and Wales 
			  Number of offences 
			   1997  1998- 99( 1)  1999-20 00  2000/01  2001- 02 
			 Avon and Somerset 20,396 20,605 20,519 22,479 26,990 
			 Bedfordshire 8,025 7,893 8,048 7,892 8,191 
			 British Transport police(3) - - - - - 
			 Cambridgeshire 9,250 11,925 12,110 13,197 13,972 
			 Cheshire 11,205 11,596 12,627 13,078 16,546 
			 Cleveland 11,274 10,681 10,812 10,684 13,446 
			 Cumbria 8,047 8,405 8,943 8,922 10,120 
			 Derbyshire 13,387 14,316 15,207 14,997 17,125 
			 Devon and Cornwall 15,232 17,722 18,490 18,284 19,875 
			 Dorset 8,245 8,303 8,408 9,419 10,766 
			 Durham 10,518 11,122 10,654 10,375 13,018 
			 Dyfed-Powys 4,497 4,497 4,417 4,571 4,949 
			 Essex 18,845 18,834 21,766 24,673 26,990 
			 Gloucestershire 6,158 6,570 7,990 9,087 9,264 
			 Greater Manchester 68,100 67,052 75,201 77,154 84,631 
			 Gwent 9,947 11,690 12,253 11,221 9,934 
			 Hampshire 26,429 25,100 28,125 28,714 31,624 
			 Hertfordshire 9,831 10,177 11,560 13,839 15,302 
			 Humberside 20,177 21,486 20,739 20,910 22,839 
			 Kent 24,047 23,049 24,806 27,947 28,708 
			 Lancashire 26,767 21,360 22,776 25,445 31,925 
			 Leicestershire 14,034 15,143 16,889 16,664 18,903 
			 Lincolnshire 7,145 7,728 8,391 9,078 11,282 
			 London, City Of 287 297 409 260 365 
			 Merseyside 23,677 27,465 30,822 30,593 33,899 
			 Metropolitan 140,516 136,870 151,590 144,231 147,803 
			 Norfolk 9,782 10,393 10,978 11,481 13,065 
			 Northamptonshire 11,595 11,771 11,736 11,448 12,961 
			 Northumbria 35,314 31,634 30,436 29,775 34,027 
			 North Wales 11,238 9,652 10,102 12,182 14,388 
			 North Yorkshire 8,537 8,372 8,617 9,167 11,436 
			 Nottinghamshire 28,165 23,953 23,692 23,187 25,684 
			 South Wales 29,331 30,227 28,154 25,313 27,590 
			 South Yorkshire 23,568 24,198 25,305 24,173 27,513 
			 Staffordshire 16,940 15,668 18,442 21,655 25,385 
			 Suffolk 7,835 7,898 9,547 10,150 12,095 
			 Surrey 6,557 7,576 8,602 12,318 12,964 
			 Sussex 23,945 23,828 26,361 27,219 27,375 
			 Thames Valley 25,584 26,006 28,630 29,719 32,152 
			 Warwickshire 6,362 6,888 7,439 7,290 8,008 
			 West Mercia 14,965 15,346 17,410 16,817 22,739 
			 West Midlands 49,120 50,407 61,422 57,459 61,010 
			 West Yorkshire 46,446 49,239 48,106 49,568 59,262 
			 Wiltshire 5,722 6,644 7,151 7,452 8,374 
			 Total 877,042 879,586 945,682 960,087 1,064,495 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of offences 
			   2002- 03( 2)  2003- 04  2004- 05  2005- 06  2006- 07  2007- 08  2008- 09  2009- 10 
			 Avon and Somerset 26,430 29,949 31,642 30,992 33,557 30,063 26,627 23,034 
			 Bedfordshire 10,050 11,065 10,561 10,817 10,717 10,141 8,720 8,029 
			 British Transport police(3) 11,353 12,948 12,772 12,660 13,444 10,461 8,974 7,606 
			 Cambridgeshire 16,153 16,534 16,227 14,680 15,597 14,001 12,980 11,519 
			 Cheshire 18,921 22,556 24,365 24,966 22,363 18,949 16,518 13,800 
			 Cleveland 14,591 16,958 16,941 18,604 18,591 17,545 13,746 11,183 
			 Cumbria 10,304 11,629 12,858 13,627 12,669 11,425 8,995 7,432 
			 Derbyshire 17,789 18,932 17,991 19,025 20,140 17,894 16,642 14,635 
			 Devon and Cornwall 26,883 30,116 31,021 31,274 32,908 28,982 25,982 21,932 
			 Dorset 12,229 13,428 12,297 12,545 12,460 11,907 11,331 9,972 
			 Durham 14,067 14,244 15,176 16,322 16,422 14,674 13,027 10,856 
			 Dyfed-Powys 4,920 7,032 8,186 7,939 8,003 6,657 5,932 4,953 
			 Essex 30,337 34,253 32,406 30,564 30,010 26,379 23,554 20,589 
			 Gloucestershire 10,103 10,847 10,802 11,259 11,999 10,342 9,095 7,477 
			 Greater Manchester 76,960 81,123 73,662 75,545 77,450 65,150 60,384 48,779 
			 Gwent 13,126 13,681 13,494 12,875 13,659 12,524 12,191 11,428 
			 Hampshire 34,736 43,557 42,210 42,352 45,362 38,927 35,409 28,609 
			 Hertfordshire 17,988 19,887 20,762 20,986 20,713 17,374 14,999 12,824 
			 Humberside 24,347 28,635 28,202 26,152 26,468 22,064 19,202 17,852 
			 Kent 29,068 34,537 35,274 36,701 36,827 31,425 27,735 22,719 
			 Lancashire 30,733 39,447 40,863 40,110 37,804 32,284 29,639 25,139 
			 Leicestershire 19,210 19,480 18,955 18,302 19,418 18,642 16,997 15,019 
			 Lincolnshire 13,694 15,176 14,934 14,069 14,528 13,345 12,243 11,070 
			 London, City Of 366 319 311 284 310 234 275 263 
			 Merseyside 37,455 39,966 41,838 42,869 41,080 30,773 25,787 23,461 
			 Metropolitan 144,373 147,465 135,684 122,400 113,938 102,483 95,217 88,263 
			 Norfolk 16,030 17,462 17,470 17,577 17,258 14,790 12,647 10,440 
			 Northamptonshire 15,687 17,295 16,842 16,341 16,025 14,858 13,703 11,827 
			 Northumbria 42,222 42,523 41,248 36,911 36,087 29,758 27,178 22,551 
			 North Wales 17,079 17,036 15,107 14,436 14,841 12,938 11,808 10,223 
			 North Yorkshire 13,168 14,732 13,573 12,723 12,509 11,023 10,764 8,707 
			 Nottinghamshire 23,980 26,308 29,073 30,728 30,278 26,735 24,234 19,993 
			 South Wales 30,935 28,519 27,558 28,794 28,550 27,671 26,762 22,719 
			 South Yorkshire 29,861 30,933 35,384 40,293 39,507 35,467 30,408 24,850 
			 Staffordshire 23,271 24,447 23,262 24,328 24,944 20,509 19,015 16,610 
			 Suffolk 11,497 12,817 12,781 13,067 13,084 12,207 11,308 10,419 
			 Surrey 13,669 16,571 17,271 16,968 17,501 15,961 14,650 13,047 
			 Sussex 25,548 28,792 30,830 29,288 30,060 26,659 23,601 20,964 
			 Thames Valley 33,693 37,320 37,338 37,356 40,273 35,931 34,104 30,300 
			 Warwickshire 8,514 9,318 9,728 10,054 10,267 9,234 8,006 6,458 
			 West Mercia 21,258 23,615 21,962 20,563 20,675 18,672 17,060 14,568 
			 West Midlands 57,319 59,150 55,996 56,729 56,134 46,670 41,977 37,486 
			 West Yorkshire 61,447 68,476 63,666 60,600 59,041 51,526 46,760 38,692 
			 Wiltshire 9,246 9,446 9,020 9,674 11,569 10,929 10,179 8,423 
			 Total 1,120,610 1,218,524 1,197,543 1,184,349 1,185,040 1,036,183 936,365 806,720 
			 (1) The coverage was expanded and counting rules changed in 1998-99. Figures before and after that date are not directly comparable. (2) The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced in 2002-03. Figures before and after that date are not directly comparable. (3) Includes the British Transport police from 2002-03.

Vetting

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will publish  (a) the minutes of meetings her Department has had with and  (b) written submissions her Department has received from (i) the NSPCC, (ii) Barnardos, (iii) Sir Roger Singleton and (iv) the Children's Commissioner during preparation of the Protection of Freedoms Bill.

Lynne Featherstone: A number of consultation meetings with interested parties have taken place during the Vetting and Barring Scheme and criminal records reviews and other aspects of the Protection of Freedoms Bill. We would not normally publish material submitted by third parties without their express consent to do so.

Vetting

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many criminal records checks have been received and processed by her Department in each year since 2005.

Lynne Featherstone: The figures for the number of criminal records checks that have been received and processed by the Criminal Records Bureau in each year since 2005 can be found in the following table:
	
		
			   Applications received  Certificates despatched 
			 2005 2,736,774 2,655,928 
			 2006 3,183,035 3,143,109 
			 2007 3,382,807 3,353,101 
			 2008 3,810,670 3,701,295 
			 2009 4,269,971 4,198,256 
			 2010 4,219,395 4,307,690 
		
	
	The figures for despatched volumes may include carry over from previous years, eg applications received in December 2009 may have been despatched in January 2010.

INDEPENDENT PARLIAMENTARY STANDARDS AUTHORITY COMMITTEE

Budget Limits

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, on what date the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority expects to publish budget limits for 2011-12.

Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
	 Letter from Scott Woolveridge, dated March 2011:
	As acting Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the date the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority expects to publish budget limits for 2011-12.
	IPSA will outline MPs' budget limits for 2011-12 when it publishes the revised MPs' Expenses Scheme on 25 March 2011.

JUSTICE

Contact Orders

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many contact orders under section 8 of the Children Act 1989 issued to fathers in respect of their children were issued in response to the breach of an existing contact order in each year since 2000;
	(2)  how many contact orders under section 8 of the Children Act 1989 were issued to fathers in respect of their children in each year since 2000;
	(3)  how many  (a) parents and  (b) fathers applied to court in respect of (i) one breach and (ii) three or more breaches of a contact order issued under section 8 of the Children Act 1989 in each year since 2000;
	(4)  how many contact orders under section 8 of the Children Act 1989 were issued in response to the breach of an existing contact order in each year since 2000.

Jonathan Djanogly: Information about contact applications in respect of breaches of a contact order, contact orders issued in response to the breach of an existing contact order, or about to which party contact orders are issued is not held centrally. This information can be obtained only through the inspection of individual files at disproportionate cost.
	However, information on the total number of applications for a contact order made by fathers in the county courts and High Court is available centrally, and figures for 2005 to 2009 are provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Applications for Section 8 Contact Orders in Children Act (Private Law) cases in the county courts and High Court of England and Wales, by applicant relationship to child, 2005 - 09 
			  Applicant relationship to child  2005  2006  2007  2008  2009 
			 Father 25,339 24,967 24,079 25,369 28,777 
			 Other 7,997 8,210 8,187 8,761 9,852 
			 Unknown 264 295 278 278 375 
			 Total 33,600 33,472 32,544 34,408 39,004 
			  Notes:  1. Data are taken from HM Court Service's FamilyMan system.  2. The figures reflect the number of applications made, counted by child. This means that where an application was made for contact with two children the case will be counted twice.  3. In the applicant relationship to child categories "father" may be an adoptive parent or a natural parent, and "other" includes any relationship (e.g. mother, aunt or uncle) and "unknown" reflects cases where no relationship was specified or where the relationship was unclear because there was more than one relationship specified for the case.  4. The figures exclude applications made in Family Proceedings Courts (FPCs). This is because, during the period considered, not all FPCs were using FamilyMan and information on applicant relationships to children was not available for all FPCs. In 2009 FPCs represented about 26% of private law contact order applications.  5. The figures also exclude section 8 contact order applications made in public law (child protection) cases.  6. The overall totals for each year may differ slightly from previously published figures as FamilyMan is a live system and the data used to produce these figures was a more recent extract than that used to produce the earlier published figures. This means that the figures will take into account changes made to data held on FamilyMan since previously published statistics was extracted. 
		
	
	Provisional statistics for private law applications in 2010 are due to be published in the October to December edition of the report Court Statistics Quarterly, which will be published on 31 March and available from the Ministry of Justice website at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/courtstatisticsquarterly.htm

Departmental Assets

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether receipts from the sale of assets owned by regional development agencies are reflected in the spending plans of his Department for  (a) 2012-13 and  (b) 2013-14.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice does not fund the regional development agencies and is not financially linked with them, so receipts from any sale of regional development agency assets would not be included in the MoJ's future spending plans.
	More information about the funding of the regional development agencies can be found on their website at:
	http://www.englandsrdas.com/funding-and-accountability

Departmental Public Appointments

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which public bodies sponsored by his Department  (a) have been and  (b) are to be closed, merged or reorganised following his appointment; and how many (i) women and (ii) men who are public appointees at each body will no longer hold such an appointment in consequence.

Kenneth Clarke: The coalition Government are committed to increasing the accountability of public bodies, and this involves reducing their number and their cost to the taxpayer. The proposals for the majority of bodies across all Departments were announced and published on 14 October 2010. An updated list reflecting changes since October 2010 has been published on the Cabinet Office website this month.
	Summary information on public appointments is published annually by the Cabinet Office. This includes data on gender. Copies of the most recent report can be downloaded from:
	www.civilservice.gov.uk/ndpb
	In relation to those bodies sponsored by the Ministry of Justice which are subject to possible closure, merger or reorganisation the following table gives details of the proposed reforms and the gender split for any public appointees involved:
	
		
			  Arm's length body  Proposed reforms  Male public appointees  Female public appointees 
			 Advisory Committees of Justices of the Peace (x101) Merge: Merge and reduce number to 48 on grounds of performing a function which requires impartiality (1)- (1)- 
			 Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council No longer an NDPB: Abolish body and function 13 8 
			 Chief Coroner of England and Wales/ Office of the Chief Coroner (1 body) No longer a statutory body: Abolish body and function. Certain functions to be transferred, either to the Lord Chancellor or the Senior Judiciary 0 0 
			 Courts Boards (x19) No longer an NDPB: Abolish body and function 93 45 
			 Crown Court Rule Committee No longer an NDPB: Abolish body and transfer functions to Lord Chief Justice in consultation with other rule committees 1 0 
			 Crown Prosecution Service/Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office(2) Merge: Public Bodies Bill will legislatively complete the reform which was effected in Jan 2010 0 0 
			 HM Inspectorate of Court Administration No longer a statutory body: Abolish body and transfer essential functions to the appropriate inspectorate, as previously announced 0 0 
			 Legal Services Commission No longer an NDPB: Abolish as NDPB, change to executive agency, as previously announced 5 1 
			 Legal Services Ombudsman No longer a statutory body: Abolish both body and function, decision already taken to abolish by 2011 0 0 
			 Magistrates Courts Rule Committee No longer a statutory body: Abolish body, will be discontinued and function will transfer to other rule committee 4 0 
			 Public Guardian Board No longer a statutory body: Abolish body and function 3 4 
			 Victims' Advisory Panel No longer an NDPB: Abolish body and function 0 0 
			 Youth Justice Board of England and Wales No longer an NDPB: Abolish as part of wider criminal justice reforms 6 4 
			 (1) Figures not available at present. (2) The CPS/RCPO are not sponsored by the Ministry of Justice, but the Department has responsibility for policy.

Electronic Tagging

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the average cost to his Department of administering the electronic tagging of an individual for  (a) 90 and  (b) 120 days in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what reports he has received of instances where procedures to be followed in the event of a breach of electronic tag conditions have not been adhered to in the last three years;
	(3)  whether any contractual penalties have been imposed on companies who hold electronic tagging contracts in England and Wales.

Crispin Blunt: The average cost to the Ministry of Justice for electronic monitoring a person for 90 and 120 days is shown in the following table. The costs differ for adults and juveniles.
	
		
			  Average national cost (inc VAT)  - 2010-11 
			  £ 
			   Adults  Juveniles 
			 90 day 1,063 1,503 
			 120 day 1,368 1,935 
		
	
	The Department does not routinely collect the information requested. Details on all breaches of electronic monitoring curfews are held by the electronic monitoring suppliers G4S and Serco. Obtaining this information would require the suppliers to check all breach cases over the last three years to identify instances where breach proceedings were not adhered to; this could be met only at a disproportionate cost.
	However, all the electronic monitoring providers do have a specific service level in place about the timely reporting of electronic monitoring breaches to court, in the year 2009-10 both contractors reported 100% compliance with this service level.
	Contractual penalties have been imposed on the electronic monitoring suppliers, Serco and G4S for failure to meet specific service level agreements. The suppliers repay credits to the Ministry of Justice for these failures. Details of the credits that the Department has received for the last four financial years are as follows:
	
		
			   Total credits (£) 
			 2007-08 168,444.07 
			 2008-09 66,787.04 
			 2009-10 23,638.27 
			 2010-11 14,617.55 
			 Overall total 273,486.3

Electronic Tagging

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were sentenced to supervision by the courts in England and Wales with a condition of being electronically tagged in  (a) 2009 and  (b) 2010.

Crispin Blunt: The number of people who received a community order with a requirement for an electronic monitoring curfew was  (a) 55,189 in 2009 and  (b) 62,233 in 2010.
	The data provided are from the Electronic monitoring service suppliers, G4S and Serco. It shows the number of electronic monitoring orders received by the suppliers and not individuals.

Family Courts

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what steps he has taken to improve the working of family courts;
	(2)  what steps he has taken to minimise any adverse effect on a child arising from participation in court proceedings.

Jonathan Djanogly: A Family Justice Review is currently under way looking at the workings of the family justice system with a view to implementing significant reform. The review panel, comprising experts from across the field of family justice, will make recommendations for reform in two core areas: the promotion of informed settlement and agreement; and management of the family justice system overall. Recommendations will focus on ensuring that the interests of the child are paramount in any decision affecting them, unnecessary delay is avoided and conflict between individuals is minimised as far as possible. An interim report is expected shortly and a final report is due in the autumn.
	Pending the outcome of the review, in public law proceedings an interim "system-wide approach" has been adopted with the aim of reducing unnecessary delay. The approach comprises efforts focussed around local solutions and initiatives, and is being taken forward by a network of newly established "local performance improvement groups". A National Performance Partnership has also been established to collate best practice and take a strategic approach to improving performance and reducing delay. Ministry of Justice and Department for Education officials are working closely with system agencies (Her Majesty's Courts Service, CAFCASS, Legal Services Commission and local authorities) as well as with the President of the Family Division to identify and share best practice to reduce delay and improve performance in public law proceedings. To support these efforts, Her Majesty's Court Service allocated an additional 4,000 county court sitting days over the course of 2010-11 to create extra capacity in the system.
	In relation to private law disputes, the President of the Family Division issued a revised Practice Direction in April 2010 setting out the principles to be followed. A key feature is the requirement to list a first hearing within four weeks, and no later than six weeks, from the issue of proceedings. At the first hearing, the court will identify the issues and make decisions about the timetabling and next stages in the case. These decisions are informed by a short report from CAFCASS setting out the result of initial safeguarding checks with the local authority and police to ensure that any decisions made at the first hearing are safe for the child and parties.

HM Inspectorate of Prisons: Political Activities

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether the role of Chief Inspector of Prisons is politically restricted under civil service guidelines.

Crispin Blunt: The civil service guidelines do not apply to Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons (HMCI Prisons), since the appointment is not within the civil service. However, it is the policy of the Ministry of Justice to include in HMCI Prisons' terms of appointment a provision that restricts the political activities of the office holder. That is to say, HMCI Prisons must not engage in national political activities such as adoption as a candidate, holding office in a party political organisation, or canvassing on behalf of a parliamentary candidate or political party. Permission may be sought to take part in local political activities or to engage in matters of local political controversy. Under schedule 1 of the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975, the serving Chief Inspector is not permitted to stand as a Member of Parliament; under the Scottish Parliament (Disqualification) Order 2010 the Chief Inspector is also prohibited from standing as a member of the Scottish Parliament.

Human Rights

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on which occasions the UK Supreme Court has declared an incompatibility between domestic legislation and the European Convention on Human Rights under section 4 of the Human Rights Act 1998 since the Court's inception; and what the Government's response was in each such case.

Jonathan Djanogly: Since the Supreme Court began operating in October 2009, it has declared one piece of domestic legislation incompatible with the European convention on human rights (ECHR) in accordance with section 4 of the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA).
	On this occasion, the Supreme Court upheld a declaration of incompatibility issued by the Court of Appeal in relation to section 82 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, pursuant to the R (on the application of (1)F (2) Angus Aubrey Thompson)  v. Secretary of State for the Home Department case. On 16 February 2011, the Home Secretary made an oral statement in the House of Commons announcing that the Government would shortly bring forward proposals to implement the Supreme Court's ruling in this case.
	The courts listed under section 4(5) of the HRA other than the Supreme Court have also exercised the power to grant a declaration of incompatibility since the HRA came into force on 2 October 2000.

Offenders: Berkshire

Alok Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many people arrested and charged for drug-related offences in  (a) Reading West constituency,  (b) Reading and  (c) Berkshire were prosecuted in each of the last five years; and how many such cases resulted in (i) a custodial sentence, (ii) a non-custodial penalty, (iii) the case being dropped due to a lack of evidence and (iv) the defendant being cleared of all charges;
	(2)  how many people arrested and charged for drink- and drug-related driving offences in  (a) Reading West constituency,  (b) Reading and  (c) Berkshire were prosecuted in each of the last five years; and how many of those cases resulted in (i) a custodial sentence, (ii) a non-custodial penalty, (iii) the case being dropped due to a lack of evidence and (iv) the defendant being cleared of all charges;
	(3)  how many people arrested and charged for firearm-related offences in  (a) Reading West constituency,  (b) Reading and  (c) Berkshire were prosecuted in each of the last five years; how many of those cases resulted in (i) a custodial sentence, (ii) a non-custodial penalty, (iii) the case being dropped due to a lack of evidence and (iv) the defendant being cleared of all charges;
	(4)  how many people were prosecuted for burglary in  (a) Reading West constituency,  (b) Reading and  (c) Berkshire in each of the last five years; and how many cases resulted in (i) a custodial sentence, (ii) a non-custodial penalty, (iii) the case being dropped because of a lack of evidence and (iv) the defendant being cleared of all charges;
	(5)  how many people were prosecuted for possession of a knife in  (a) Reading West constituency,  (b) Reading and  (c) Berkshire in each of the last five years; and how many cases resulted in (i) a custodial sentence, (ii) a non-custodial penalty, (iii) the case being dropped because of a lack of evidence and (iv) the defendant being cleared of all charges;

Crispin Blunt: From information held by the Ministry of Justice, the number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for; drugs, drink and drug driving, firearms, burglary and knife possession offences, and the sentence breakdown in Thames Valley police force area, 2005-09 (latest available) can be viewed in the table.
	Information available centrally does not allow a breakdown below police force area or local justice area in which the cases were heard. Therefore information for Thames Valley police force area has been provided in lieu.
	Court proceedings data for 2010 will be available in the spring of 2011.
	Charging information is not held by the Ministry of Justice.
	The Home Office are responsible for information relating to arrests. The latest published information on arrests can be found in chapter 1 of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin, "Police Powers and Procedures 2008-09". Table 1.01 contains data on arrests for drug offences in Thames Valley police force area.
	A link to the bulletin as well as previous bulletins can also be found as follows:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/police-powers.html
	Arrests data reported to the Home Office are for the main offence groups only e.g. violence against the person, sexual offences, etc. It is therefore not possible to provide the specific information requested.
	
		
			  Number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for selected offences and sentence breakdown in Thames Valley police force area, 2005 - 09( 1, 2) 
			  Offence/Outcome  2005  2006  2007  2008  2009 
			  Drugs:  
			 Proceeded against(3) 1,759 1,962 1,789 2,049 2,064 
			 Terminated early(4) 142 133 97 105 101 
			 Acquitted(5) 46 56 44 58 50 
			 Found guilty 1,573 1.747 1,643 1,924 1,916 
			 Sentenced(6) 1,571 1,747 1,636 1,922 1,900 
			  Of which:  
			 Immediate custody 200 211 240 268 195 
			 Other sentences(7) 1,371 1,536 1,396 1.654 1,705 
			   
			  Drink and dru g s related motoring:  
			 Proceeded against(3) 3,412 3,379 3,299 2,875 2,425 
			 Terminated early(4) 170 196 174 91 79 
			 Acquitted(5) 33 23 25 23 22 
			 Found guilty 3,211 3,161 3,102 2,763 2,323 
			 Sentenced(6) 3,211 3,163 3,101 2,762 2,326 
			  Of which:  
			 Immediate custody 96 85 70 91 58 
			 Other sentences(7) 3,115 3,078 3,031 2.671 2,268 
			   
			  Firearms:  
			 Proceeded against(3) 72 79 61 64 80 
			 Terminated early(4) 9 8 6 3 3 
			 Acquitted(5) 9 13 3 4 17 
			 Found guilty 47 55 48 45 46 
			 Sentenced(6) 49 55 46 44 47 
			  Of which:  
			 Immediate custody 14 18 16 14 11 
			 Other sentences(7) 35 37 30 30 36 
			   
			  Burglary:  
			 Proceeded against(3) 912 907 872 958 870 
			 Terminated early(4) 144 133 85 112 109 
			 Acquitted(5) 48 61 65 68 62 
			 Found guilty 685 649 674 681 607 
			 Sentenced(6) 666 648 663 673 612 
			  Of which:  
			 Immediate custody 252 295 278 283 259 
			 Other sentences(7) 414 353 385 390 353 
			   
			  Possession of a knife:  
			 Proceeded against(3) 192 227 165 167 289 
			 Terminated early(4) 42 41 19 15 22 
			 Acquitted(5) 10 13 14 16 18 
			 Found guilty 145 178 139 138 238 
			 Sentenced(6) 147 179 137 145 243 
			  Of which:  
			 Immediate custody 26 32 32 24 55 
			 Other sentences(7) 121 147 105 121 188 
			 (1) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) The total of the 'Terminated early', 'Acquitted' and 'Found guilty' columns may exceed the number proceeded against where defendants are found guilty in the year following that in which proceedings occurred. (4) Includes proceedings which are discontinued or withdrawn. (5) Includes proceedings which are discharged or dismissed. (6) The sentenced column may exceed those found guilty as it may be the case that a defendant found guilty, and committed for sentence at the Crown court, may be sentenced in the following year. (7) Includes: Absolute/conditional discharge, Fine, Community Sentence, Fully Suspended Sentence, and Otherwise dealt with.  Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice.

Playgrounds: Acklington

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when the estates directorate of his Department will notify Acklington Parish Council of its conclusions on the transfer of land at Acklington for a children's play area; and when he plans to respond to the letter from the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed of 10 January 2011 on this matter.

Jonathan Djanogly: A copy of the reply from the Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. and learned Friend, the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr Clarke), to the right hon. Gentleman's letter of 10 January was emailed to his office on 3 March. A further copy of this reply was sent to his office on 15 March.
	The Ministry of Justice is unable to process applications for the transfer of land until its policy on disposal of surplus property is finalised. It is expected that this will be done by the end of July and that transfer of land at Acklington to the Parish Council for recreational use could proceed this summer.

Police: Prison Accommodation

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners are being held in police cells; at what cost; and how many were so held in each police force area in England and Wales in each of the last five years.

Crispin Blunt: Police cells have not been used since 22 September 2008 and no police cells have been on stand by since the end of October 2008.
	The following table details usage by police force area between October 2006 and 31 October 2008 and gives the aggregated total of the number of prisoner nights in which a police cell was used.
	
		
			  Aggregated total number of prisoner nights in which a police cell was used by police force area from October 2006 to 22 September 2008 
			   2006  2007  2008  Total 
			 Avon and Somerset 0 122 35 157 
			 Bedfordshire 0 414 82 496 
			 Cambridgeshire 212 1,262 414 1,888 
			 Cheshire 103 4,437 1,558 6,098 
			 Cleveland 0 4 0 4 
			 Cumbria 0 351 89 440 
			 Derbyshire 113 454 341 908 
			 Devon and Cornwall 38 1,995 432 2,465 
			 Dorset 71 380 109 560 
			 Durham 42 1,226 377 1,645 
			 Dyfed Powys 1 682 0 683 
			 Essex 1,009 4,387 645 6,041 
			 Gloucestershire 0 17 1 18 
			 GMP 15 3,086 611 3,712 
			 Gwent 0 962 0 962 
			 Hampshire 65 1,555 475 2,095 
			 Hertfordshire 40 1,216 395 1,651 
			 Humberside 0 81 30 111 
			 Kent 335 3,654 948 4,937 
			 Lancashire 0 1,802 263 2,065 
			 Leicestershire 0 2,970 723 3,693 
			 Lincolnshire 168 1,569 2 1,739 
			 Merseyside 196 170 43 409 
			 Met 333 10,740 4,423 15,496 
			 Norfolk 0 20 12 32 
			 North Wales 14 1,785 453 2,252 
			 North Yorkshire 0 39 20 59 
			 Northamptonshire 219 1,232 43 1,494 
			 Northumbria 0 1,242 0 1,242 
			 Nottinghamshire 0 188 34 222 
			 South Wales 81 1,401 715 2,197 
			 South Yorkshire 0 1,015 194 1,209 
			 Staffordshire 0 2 58 60 
			 Suffolk 83 1,171 369 1,623 
			 Surrey 0 107 9 116 
			 Sussex 338 262 223 823 
			 TVP 433 2,727 688 3,848 
			 Warwickshire 93 1,191 893 2,177 
			 West Mercia 0 63 1 64 
			 West Midlands 570 6,959 939 8,468 
			 West Yorkshire 45 3,672 948 4,665 
			 Wiltshire 0 91 6 97 
			 Totals 4,617 66,703 17,601 88,921

Police: Prison Accommodation

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was allocated to the daily cost of food for a prisoner in  (a) a prison cell and  (b) a police station cell in each of the last five years.

Crispin Blunt: The information is as follows:
	 For  p risoners in prison cells:
	Responsibility for determining prison establishment food budgets lies with the governing Governor who will set aside a realistic sum that will meet the dietary needs of the population of the establishment. Menu requirements vary between establishments and are based on the prisoner population, local regimes and seasonal availability.
	Prisons provide breakfast, lunch and dinner together with all condiments and beverages. The average daily food expenditure (ADFE) per prisoner for each of the last five years is as follows.
	
		
			  Year ending 31 March:  Estimated average daily food expenditure per prisoner (£) 
			 2010 2.20 
			 2009 2.31 
			 2008 2.12 
			 2007 1.97 
			 2006 1.93 
		
	
	Costs shown in the table exclude prisons operated and managed by the contracted sector.
	The ADFE per prisoner has been calculated using available management information from the NOMS finance systems and assumes that all transactions have been allocated and recorded against the correct accounting codes.
	 For prisoners in police station cells:
	Police cells have not been used since 22 September 2008 and no police cells have been on stand by since the end of October 2008.
	However Operation Safeguard was in use between mid-October 2006 and 31 October 2008. Throughout this period NOMS was invoiced by police forces in arrears. Expenditure on meals provided for prisoners held in police cells is not readily available from invoices submitted. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the agreement between NOMS and ACPO at this time placed an upper limit of £12 expenditure on meals for each prisoner over a 24 hour period.
	Under the current agreement between NOMS and ACPO governing Operation Safeguard an all-inclusive rate is charged which includes the cost of meals and other ancillary items. This agreement was finalised in May 2009.

Police: Video Recordings

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the merits of using videolink equipment installed in prisons to record interviews between police officers and witnesses in prison.

Crispin Blunt: The Ministry of Justice Video Services do not currently have a recording facility available on any video link equipment. There are no plans at present to upgrade the service but we will consider this issue as part of the Department's wider plans to roll out video services.

Prison Accommodation

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offenders held in a cell designed for one inmate shared it with  (a) one other inmate and  (b) two other inmates in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Crispin Blunt: The number of offenders held in a cell designed for one inmate who shared with one other inmate in the 12 months from April 2009 to March 2010 is set out in the following table in the column headed "doubling".
	Trebling refers to cells designed for two which are occupied by three. Figures for trebling are available for each of the 12 months from April 2009 to March 2010 and are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Doubling  Trebling 
			  2009   
			 April 18,702 993 
			 May 18,760 1,076 
			 June 18,914 1,154 
			 July 19,275 1,076 
			 August 19,725 1,198 
			 September 19,082 1,147 
			 October 19,404 1,131 
			 November 19,470 1,041 
			 December 18,602 952 
			  2010   
			 January 18,718 861 
			 February 18,872 894 
			 March 19,466 871 
			 Total 228,990 12,394 
		
	
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	Occupancy levels at individual prisons will vary according to the amount of capacity available overall, the number of prisoners and the way in which the prison population is managed.
	We will continue to keep capacity requirements under review against current headroom in the estate, expected prison population levels and the impact of wider developments such as the Government's Green Paper "Breaking the Cycle: Effective Punishment, Rehabilitation and Sentencing of Offenders".

Prison Service: Training

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the budget for staff training in each prison was in  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11.

Crispin Blunt: The table details the budgets allocated on the National Offender Management Service' (NOMS) central accounting system for staff training in each prison for financial years 2009-10 and 2010-11. The training budgets cover externally provided staff training courses and further education courses, and also include the purchase of associated training course materials and training equipment.
	The budgets do not include training delivered to staff internally within NOMS, or that training that may occur within the normal working environment in the form of on the job learning and development. This information is not held centrally on the NOMS accounting system.
	
		
			  £ 
			  Prison  2009-10  2010-11 
			 Acklington 15,500 15,500 
			 Ashwell 13,475 14,800 
			 Askham Grange 5,618 5,700 
			 Aylesbury 13,400 6,000 
			 Bedford 12,000 12,000 
			 Belmarsh 68,387 55,784 
			 Birmingham 23,000 34,000 
			 Blantyre House 3,000 600 
			 Blundeston 14,440 10,413 
			 Brinsford 18,050 51,000 
			 Bristol 10,333 12,000 
			 Brixton 8,000 9,000 
			 Buckley Hall 20,000 10,700 
			 Bullingdon 7,000 13,000 
			 Bullwood Hall 9,000 8,600 
			 Canterbury 11,000 8,000 
			 Cardiff 15,000 10,000 
			 Castington 18,000 0 
			 Channings Wood 21,875 19,900 
			 Chelmsford 21,000 33,000 
			 Coldingley 6,000 6,000 
			 Cookham Wood 9,000 8,000 
			 Dartmoor 4,000 10,000 
			 Deerbolt 12,000 12,000 
			 Dorchester 5,000 5,000 
			 Dover 14,100 14,650 
			 Downview 60,250 15,800 
			 Drake Hal! 12,866 9,500 
			 Durham 23,000 33,000 
			 East Sutton Park 4,000 600 
			 Eastwood Park 15,830 8,273 
			 Erlestoke 11,000 19,914 
			 Everthorpe 22,400 24,615 
			 Exeter 12,000 12,000 
			 Featherstone 20,000 20,000 
			 Feltham 22,000 26,000 
			 Ford 7,500 7,500 
			 Foston Hall 21,010 22,592 
			 Frankland 167,250 171,346 
			 Full Sutton 73,400 68,300 
			 Garth 58,914 32,074 
			 Gartree 34,574 20,774 
			 Glen Parva 25,900 12,500 
			 Gloucester 11,600 8,600 
			 Grendon 15,900 10,500 
			 Guys Marsh 6,500 12,500 
			 Haslar 4,400 5,150 
			 Haverigg 9,000 5,000 
			 Highdown 18,000 9,000 
			 Edmunds Hill 18,000 6,000 
			 Highpoint 26,000 24,700 
			 Hindley 25,500 25,500 
			 Hollesley Bay 3,500 5,500 
			 Holloway 20,000 30,000 
			 Holme House 33,800 39,700 
			 Hull 32,000 7,000 
			 Huntercombe 18,565 11,403 
			 Kingston 5,000 5,000 
			 Kirkham 36,000 9,000 
			 Kirklevington Grange 5,000 5,000 
			 Lancaster Castle 6,000 6,000 
			 Lancaster Farms 36,000 15,600 
			 Latchmere House 4,000 3,800 
			 Leeds 19,097 15,247 
			 Leicester 8,000 23,520 
			 Lewes 14,400 19,630 
			 Leyhill 19,000 19,500 
			 Lincoln 17,700 16,800 
			 Lindholme 52,000 15,000 
			 Littlehey 13,017 45,269 
			 Liverpool 24,163 12,200 
			 Long Lartin 70,650 70,695 
			 Low Newton 17,000 29,356 
			 Maidstone 10,000 15,000 
			 Manchester 106,147 110,147 
			 Moorland 19,000 19,000 
			 Morton Hall 20,150 10,000 
			 Mount (The) 20,000 6,000 
			 New Hall 36,474 32,874 
			 North Sea Camp 6,000 11,400 
			 Northallerton 6,000 7,300 
			 Norwich 14,735 15,260 
			 Nottingham 15,665 21,200 
			 Onley 32,500 39,500 
			 Pentonville 11,128 12,000 
			 Portland 21,300 2130 
			 Preston 43,900 27,000 
			 Ranby 26,000 17,000 
			 Reading 7,500 7,500 
			 Risley 30,000 20,000 
			 Rochester 33,825 29,750 
			 Send 8,000 18,000 
			 Shepton Mallet 7,000 4,500 
			 Shrewsbury 10,000 10,380 
			 Stafford 10,000 25,000 
			 Stocken 27,000 35,500 
			 Stoke Heath 31,500 22,500 
			 Styal 60,500 11,750 
			 Sudbury 6,000 10,400 
			 Swansea 5,000 5,000 
			 Swinfen Hall 23,000 18,000 
			 Thorn Cross 11,000 9,000 
			 Usk 2,986 6,000 
			 Verne (The) 10,079 12,000 
			 Wakefield 56,000 75,000 
			 Wandsworth 97,080 42,000 
			 Warren Hill 6,762 10,000 
			 Wayland 41,000 29,000 
			 Wealstun 8,000 8,000 
			 Wellingborough 6,000 18,000 
			 Werrington 16,100 17,000 
			 Wetherby 96,733 64,100 
			 Whatton 55,950 43,000 
			 Whitemoor 204,282 168,716 
			 Winchester 10,200 13,200 
			 Woodhill 43,999 35,000 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 25,000 15,000 
			 Wymott 34,000 23,500 
			 Springhill 5,100 4,500 
			 Isle of Sheppey Cluster 23,842 44,259 
			 Kennet 15,000 15,000 
			 Hewell 14,100 21,000 
			 Bure 19,500 30,000 
			 Isle of Wight Cluster 44,000 39,000 
			 Isis 48,000 52,000 
			 Total 3,102,901 2,780,140

Prisoners' Release

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were subject to home detention curfew in England and Wales on the latest date for which figures are available.

Crispin Blunt: On 11 March 2011 there were 2,699 prisoners under Home Detention Curfew supervision. This information is published weekly on the HMPS website:
	http://www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk/resourcecentre/publicationsdocuments/index.asp?cat=85
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisoners: Finance

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department has given to prisoner support groups in each year since its inception.

Crispin Blunt: Financial information for grants and contracts paid to voluntary and community sector providers since the Department's inception is not collated centrally. Individual prisons and Probation Trusts have responsibility for contracting directly with the voluntary and community sector providers, and the National Offenders Management Service has only recently commenced putting in processes to collect data at a national level.

Prisons: EU Action

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  whether the Government were consulted in advance of the adoption by the Committee of Ministers of Recommendation (87)3 on European prison rules; whether the European Prison Rules have effect in UK domestic law; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether the UK was consulted in advance of the adoption by the Committee of Ministers of Recommendation (2003)23 on the management by prison administrations of life sentence and other long-term prisoners; whether the Recommendation has effect in UK domestic law; and if he will make a statement.

Crispin Blunt: The Committee of Ministers is composed of representatives of Council of Europe member states, and Her Majesty's Government regularly contributes to discussions about prison rules and standards within the Council of Europe. The European prison rules are not legally binding on member states. However, our domestic rules, standards and policies are generally consistent with the principles of the European rules.

Prisons: Mobile Phones

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prison officers received a  (a) caution and  (b) reprimand for providing prisoners with mobile telephones in  (a) 2007,  (b) 2008,  (c) 2009 and  (d) 2010.

Crispin Blunt: The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only by contacting individual prison establishments and by reviewing individual employee personal files at a disproportionate cost.

Prosecutions

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prosecutions have been brought by  (a) the Crown Prosecution Service and  (b) local authorities for offences of (i) fly-tipping, (ii) graffiti, (iii) dog fouling, (iv) dropping of litter and (v) parking in each year since 2006.

Crispin Blunt: The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for (i) fly tipping offences, (ii) 'other' criminal damage, (iii) dog fouling, (iv) littering and (v) parking offences since 2006 is given in the table from 2006 to 2009 (latest available). The offence class of 'other' criminal damage includes, but cannot separately identify, offences of graffiti. Information collated centrally on court proceedings does not specifically identify the prosecuting authority.
	Court proceedings data for 2010 are planned for publication in spring 2011.
	
		
			  Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for selected offences, England and Wales, 2006 to 2009( 1,2,3) 
			  Offence description  Statute  2006  2007  2008  2009 
			 Fly-tipping Environmental Protection Act 1990, s.33(6)(8)(9), 34 and 59; Control of Pollution Act (Amendment) Act 1989, s.1; Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978. 1,791 1,842 1,817 1,772 
			 Other criminal damage Explosive Substances Act 1883 s.2 (part), 3 (part); Malicious Damage Act 1861, ss.35, 36, 47 and 48; Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Area Act 1979; Criminal Damage Act 1971 s.1(1). 13,478 12,848 8,567 6,345 
			 Dog fouling Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996, s.3. 404 376 478 680 
			 Littering Environmental Protection Act 1990, s.87, 93, 94, 94(8)(9) as substituted by Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, s.21. 2,031 3,066 3,571 4,449 
			 Parking Road Traffic Act 1988, s.22; Road Traffic Act 1988, s.160, sch. 2A P.2(1)(2)(3)(4), and P.4 as added by Road Safety Act 2006, s.22 Transport Act 2000, s.173(5)(6)(7), 174(3), 175(2)(3)(4), 190; Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, s.62(2); Traffic Management Act 2004, ss.78, 79, and 82. 9,059 6,370 6,595 7,319 
			 (1) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services-Ministry of Justice.

Rape: Victim Support Schemes

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 21 December 2010,  Official Report, columns 1166-67W, on rape: victim support schemes, what funding he has allocated to rape crisis centres in each year of the comprehensive spending review period; and what proportion of such funding will come from the victim surcharge.

Crispin Blunt: The Government are committed to providing existing rape support centres with stable, long-term funding and developing new centres where there are gaps in provision. Funding has been allocated as follows:
	 Existing rape support centres
	Over the next three-year period, the Ministry of Justice will provide up to £10.5 million in grant funding for existing rape support centres. This will give centres the financial certainty they need to build a sustainable presence.
	 Development of new rape support centres
	In the first phase of a longer-term program of work to develop new centres in areas where there are gaps in provision, up to £600,000 in funding will be provided over the next 12 months to develop new rape support centres in Hereford, Devon, Trafford and Dorset.
	We are currently working with the voluntary sector to finalise budgets for the four new centres for financial years 2012-13 and 2013-14 and to identify further areas where the need for such services is particularly acute.
	It is intended that the commitment will be predominately funded from the proceeds of the victim surcharge. We are also in discussions with other interested departments about contributing towards its costs.

Shoplifting: Sentencing

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many incidents of shoplifting led to a  (a) caution and  (b) conviction resulting in (i) probation and (ii) custodial sentences in each parliamentary constituency in the East of England in each year since 1999.

Crispin Blunt: Information held by the Ministry of Justice on the number of offenders cautioned, found guilty and sentenced to a Community Rehabilitation Order, Community Order, Suspended Sentence and Immediate Custody at all courts for 'stealing from shops and stalls' (shoplifting), in the East of England region, 1999 to 2009, are shown in the following tables 1 and 2.
	The court proceedings database does not hold specific information on the offender beyond age, gender and the court where the case was heard; therefore the Ministry of Justice cannot tell if the offender was a resident of the east of England region.
	Court proceedings data for 2010 are planned for publication in spring 2011.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of offenders cautioned( 1, 2)  for 'shoplifting'( 3) , east of England region 1999 to 2009( 4) 
			  Region/police force area  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008  2009 
			 Bedfordshire 681 492 647 513 641 753 855 887 687 699 629 
			 Cambridgeshire 433 532 430 428 420 550 843 770 601 748 739 
			 Essex 1,016 946 1,014 810 767 805 1,277 2,069 2,611 1,305 2,130 
			 Hertfordshire 568 704 777 604 662 760 749 897 980 852 989 
			 Norfolk 573 638 495 382 400 580 648 886 708 538 424 
			 Suffolk 379 572 599 396 428 466 487 521 604 510 537 
			 East of England region 3,650 3,884 3,962 3,133 3,318 3,914 4,859 6,030 6,191 4,652 5,448 
			 (1) The cautions statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time the principal offence is the more serious offence. (2) From 1 June 2000 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and warnings. These figures have been included in the totals. (3) Stealing from 'shops and stalls' (shoplifting) is an offence under Theft Act 1968. section 1. (4) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services-Ministry of Justice. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of offenders found guilty, sentenced and given a community rehabilitation order( 1) , community order( 2) ,suspended sentence( 3 ) or an immediate custodial sentence for 'Shoplifting'( 4)  at all courts, east of England region 1999 to 2009( 5, 6, 7) 
			  Region/police force area  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008  2009 
			  Bedfordshire
			 Found guilty 798 805 867 916 1,098 1.073 879 551 594 652 608 
			 Total sentenced 809 812 874 928 1,109 1,076 881 554 593 649 605 
			  Of which:
			 Community rehabilitation order 125 154 146 152 155 129 91 - - - - 
			 Community order n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 40 100 110 142 143 
			 Suspended sentence - - 2 3 2 2 3 22 25 18 18 
			 Immediate custodial sentence 176 213 236 268 312 285 229 106 112 123 106 
			 
			  Cambridgeshire
			 Found guilty 704 872 895 857 791 717 802 808 717 1,016 1,155 
			 Total sentenced 701 869 897 353 791 716 803 808 710 993 1,145 
			  Of which:
			 Community rehabilitation order 68 116 121 171 124 124 39 1 - - 1 
			 Community order n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 92 152 152 248 239 
			 Suspended sentence - 2 - - - - 11 33 45 76 67 
			 Immediate custodial sentence 82 101 122 97 113 86 99 119 109 210 244 
			 
			  Essex
			 Found guilty 1,622 1,578 1,744 1,624 1,686 1,646 1,841 1,715 1,913 1,868 2,155 
			 Total sentenced 1,628 1,573 1,746 1,631 1,701 1,646 1,846 1,716 1,896 1,849 2,137 
			  Of which:
			 Community rehabilitation order 214 229 230 236 229 151 68 4 3 4 12 
			 Community order n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 164 311 394 416 479 
			 Suspended sentence 3 - 3 1 2 2 36 98 113 76 109 
			 Immediate custodial sentence 360 372 466 486 542 518 535 419 432 480 429 
			 
			  Hertfordshire
			 Found guilty 779 889 917 964 1,051 1,130 1,126 874 846 929 1,127 
			 Total sentenced 781 892 916 966 1,049 1,126 1,131 867 839 928 1,130 
			  Of which:
			 Community rehabilitation order 121 129 154 160 165 134 71 2 1 3 1 
			 Community order n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 106 178 182 211 265 
			 Suspended sentence 1 - 1 - 2 - 18 40 43 47 64 
			 Immediate custodial sentence 86 134 176 199 191 237 239 199 160 163 191 
			 
			  Norfolk
			 Found guilty 1,027 991 1,088 1,045 944 925 923 1,040 885 865 1,024 
			 Total sentenced 1,033 989 1,083 1,043 941 919 920 1,035 885 859 1,027 
			  Of which:
			 Community rehabilitation order 92 107 146 151 90 60 35 6 2 3 1 
			 Community order n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 116 256 192 200 211 
			 Suspended sentence 1 2 3 3 3 - 14 56 36 43 53 
			 Immediate custodial sentence 122 133 152 147 152 157 106 136 150 166 196 
			 
			  Suffolk
			 Found guilty 666 749 771 743 839 726 745 659 732 604 753 
			 Total sentenced 654 745 770 739 836 724 744 658 725 602 755 
			  Of which:
			 Community rehabilitation order 59 92 94 88 98 52 55 4 2 1 - 
			 Community order n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 27 77 131 114 154 
			 Suspended sentence 2 2 1 3 3 4 40 42 56 36 36 
			 Immediate custodial sentence 101 106 102 112 132 104 110 111 99 88 113 
			 
			  East of England region
			 Found guilty 5,596 5,884 6,282 6,149 6,409 6,217 6,316 5,647 5,687 5,934 6,822 
			 Total sentenced 5,606 5,880 6,286 6,160 6,427 6,207 6,325 5,636 5,648 5,880 6,799 
			  Of which:
			 Community rehabilitation order 679 827 891 958 861 650 359 17 8 11 15 
			 Community order n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 545 1,074 1,161 1,331 1,491 
			 Suspended sentence 7 6 10 10 12 8 122 291 318 296 347 
			 Immediate custodial sentence 927 1,059 1,254 1,309 1,442 1,387 1,318 1,090 1,062 1,230 1,279 
			 n/a = Not applicable. (1) Formerly a probation order. (2) Under the Criminal Justice Act 2003, various types of community order previously available for adults (community punishment order, community rehabilitation order, drug treatment and testing order) were replaced by a single generic community order with a range of possible requirements. Courts are able to choose different elements to make up a bespoke community order, which is relevant to that particular offender and the crime(s) they committed. (3) Fully suspended sentence prior to April 2005, Suspended Sentence Order for offences committed from 4 April 2005 (4) Stealing from 'shops and stalls' (shoplifting) is an offence under Theft Act 1968, section 1. (5) These statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were I he principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (6) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. however, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their Inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (7) The sentenced column may exceed those found guilty as it may be the case that a defendant found guilty, and committed for sentence at the Crown court, may be sentenced in the following year.  Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services-Ministry of Justice.

Terrorism: British Nationals Abroad

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what estimate his Department has made of the potential cost to the public purse of introducing the victims of overseas terrorism compensation scheme in each year of the comprehensive spending review period;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of claimants that would be eligible under the victims of overseas terrorism compensation scheme during the comprehensive spending review period.

Crispin Blunt: Previous proposals for compensating victims of terrorism overseas are being considered alongside a review of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme (CICS) and wider victims' services.
	We are working with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to establish estimates of the numbers of individuals who may be eligible for any ex-gratia scheme.

Young Offenders: Reoffenders

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many persistent young offenders are registered; and how many and what proportion of total offences were attributable to persistent young offenders in each police force area in England and Wales in each year since 1997.

Crispin Blunt: There is no register of persistent young offenders and centrally available data does not provide the information requested.

Youth Justice

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Youth Rehabilitation Orders;
	(2)  how many Youth Rehabilitation Orders have been issued in  (a) the London borough of Bexley,  (b) London and  (c) England since their creation.

Crispin Blunt: The Youth Rehabilitation Order (YRO) was introduced for offences committed from 30 November 2009 and an evaluation has not yet been undertaken.
	Information on the number of YROs issued from this date, including the type of requirement attached to the order, age, gender and ethnicity of the offender was published in January 2011 as part of the Youth Justice Board's 2009-10 Youth Justice Statistics. These are available online on the Ministry of Justice website at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/youth-justice-statistics.htm
	Information on the number and type of YROs in the 2010-11 Youth Justice Statistics is planned to be published in January 2012.
	A breakdown of YROs issued to date as requested is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of youth rehabilitation orders issued in London borough of Bexley, London and England between 30 November 2009 and 31 March 2010 
			   Number 
			 Bexley 4 
			 London 359 
			 England 2,252 
			  Note: These figures have been drawn from Youth Offending Team administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing and may be subject to change over time.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Children: Maintenance

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) non-resident parents and  (b) parents with care called the Child Maintenance Options Service in the last 12 months.

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 11 March 2011:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) non-resident parents and (b) parents with care called the Child Maintenance Options Service in the last 12 months.
	The service is confidential and provision of personal information is voluntary. As such, not all callers provide information to create a client record and not all information is complete on every record.
	In the 12 months to December 2010, around 57,100 inbound calls were from parents with care and 14,300 were from non-resident parents. 94,500 outbound calls were to parents with care and 1,100 were to non-resident parents. These figures are based on an extrapolation of the 60% of client records where the role of the caller was captured.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Children: Maintenance

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many referrals were made by the Child Maintenance Options Service to its face-to-face service in the last 12 months; what the criteria for referral were; and how many face-to-face interviews took place.

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 11 March 2011:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner.
	You; asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many referrals were made by the Child Maintenance Options Service to its face-to-face service in the last 12 months; what the criteria for referral were; and how many face-to-face interviews took place.
	In the last 12 months to February 2011 a total of 4,357 requests were made for a face to face visit, of which 3,300 have been completed. The criteria for referral are shown in the list below.
	Circumstances where a visit is always offered
	Caller is 17 years or younger
	Those that have; recently separated
	Circumstances where visits can be offered
	Low skills
	Lives at home with parents
	Disabilities
	Emotional/Distressed
	Mentions a key worker
	Hard of hearing-If caller is finding it difficult to understand information
	No friends or family nearby
	Concerns alongside maintenance and requires help in prioritising actions
	Foreign language calls
	The remit of the Child Maintenance Options face-to-face consultants has recently been expanded to include community outreach. Consultants are visiting children's centres, Jobcentre Plus offices, Citizens Advice Bureaux and other key organisations and professionals who come into contact with separated and separating parents to promote awareness of the benefits of child maintenance to families and children.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Children: Maintenance

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in what proportion of Child Support Agency cases which have a positive maintenance liability is the weekly maintenance liability  (a) less than £5,  (b) between £5 and £10,  (c) between £10 and £20,  (d) between £20 and £30,  (e) between £30 and £40,  (f) between £40 and £50 and  (g) £50 or above.

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 11 March 2011:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
	You asked the Secretary Of State for Work and Pensions, in what percentage of Child Support Agency cases which have a positive maintenance liability is the weekly maintenance liability (a) less than £5, (b) between £5 and £10, (c) between £10 and £20, (d) between £20 and £30, (e) between £30 and £40,;(f) between £40 and £50 and (g) £50 or above.
	The table below shows the percentage of cases with a current positive maintenance liability in each of the requested ongoing weekly maintenance bands in the quarter to December 2010. This includes cases administered both on and off system where an ongoing maintenance liability exists.
	
		
			  Assessment amount  Percentage 
			 Less than £5 16 
			 Between £5 and less than £10 24 
			 Between £10 and less than £20 6 
			 Between £20 and less than £30 9 
			 Between £30 and less than £40 13 
			 Between £40 and less than £50 10 
			 £50 or above 22 
			 Total 100 
			  Note: Arrears only cases are not included 
		
	
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Children: Maintenance

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of maintenance direct cases dealt with by the Child Support Agency (CSA) in 2009-10 reverted to the CSA's normal collection service during the course of the year at the request of the parent with care.

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 10 March 2011:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of maintenance direct cases dealt with by the Child Support Agency (CSA) in 2009-10 reverted to the CSA's normal collection service during the course of the year at the request of the parent with care.
	In the quarter to March 2009, there were 165,300 maintenance direct cases. 10,400 (6%) of these had a liability to pay maintenance via the CSA collection service at least once in quarters ending June 2009, September 2009, December 2009 or March 2010. The CSA does not record the reason why these cases reverted to the collection service.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Crisis Loans

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much the Social Fund crisis loan scheme cost to operate in each of the last five years.

Steve Webb: The administration of Social Fund crisis loans is carried out by Jobcentre Plus. The following table provides data back to 2006-07. This is the earliest time for which data are available for Social Fund activity. Data have been included up to and including 2009-10, the latest year for which audited Jobcentre Plus annual report and accounts are available.
	
		
			  Social Fund crisis loan direct staff administration costs 
			   £ million 
			 2009-10 68.5 
			 2008-09 46.4 
			 2007-08 38.8 
			 2006-07 24.0 
			  Notes: 1. The costs shown represent the direct staff costs within Jobcentre Plus associated with Social Fund crisis loan activity. The basis for allocating management, support costs and head office costs has changed over this period and it would be disproportionately costly to attempt to include all of these costs on a comparable basis. 2. The increase in costs over the period above reflects an increase in the volumes of crisis loans. Volumes have increased as the Department has improved public awareness of the availability of crisis loans. 3. In 2009-10 face to face interviews were introduced where an individual made a third or subsequent request for a crisis loan within a rolling 12-month period. The aim of these interviews is to: Help ensure that the fund is not being mis-used. Evidence suggests that on being invited to interview, significant numbers of applicants either terminate the telephone call or fail to attend the appointment. Help sign-post genuine needy customers for independent money advice so that they can receive help with matters such as budgeting.  Source: Jobcentre Plus Activity Based Management System

Crisis Loans

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reason the number of social fund crisis loans available to an individual in a 12 month period is to be set at three; and whether any discretion is to be available in respect of people facing hardship.

Steve Webb: As outlined in my written ministerial statement of 3 March 2011,  Official  Report, columns 45-46WS, we are taking urgent action to ensure that we are able to meet the needs of those in genuine crisis while controlling continued growth in demand from a cash limited budget.
	From 4 April, individuals will be limited to no more than three crisis loan awards in a rolling 12-month period. I believe that this restriction strikes the right level between effective help to customers in genuine crisis while preventing misuse of the system by others in attempts to gain further access to the limited funds available.
	In exceptional circumstances, a Decision Maker can make a fourth or subsequent crisis loan award where the need is as the result of an emergency deemed not to be the result of an act or omission on the part of the applicant or partner and unavoidable.

Crisis Loans

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance he plans to provide to individuals who have exceeded the social fund crisis loan cap on accessing alternative sources of emergency financial assistance.

Steve Webb: Customers declined assistance from the Social Fund on the grounds that they have reached the limit of three awards in a 12-month period will have already been required to attend a face-to-face interview at which they are signposted to national and local organisations for independent financial and debt advice.
	Additionally, Jobcentres maintain lists of local sources of assistance and will signpost customers as appropriate.
	Exceptionally, those who are otherwise subject to the three awards in 12-months restriction can still access support from the Social Fund in certain circumstances. These include rent in advance, charges for board and lodging accommodation and for hostels. The restriction also does not apply to applicants whose applications, in the opinion of the Decision Maker, have arisen from a disaster or emergency.

Crisis Loans: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many  (a) men and  (b) women resident in (i) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and (ii) the London Borough of Bexley applied for a Social Fund crisis loan in the last five years for which figures are available; and in how many such cases a Social Fund crisis loan was granted;
	(2)  how much was paid in total to  (a) men and  (b) women resident in (i) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and (ii) the London Borough of Bexley in Social Fund crisis loans in the last five years for which figures are available; and what the average payment was in each such case.

Steve Webb: The information requested is available only by Government office region or Jobcentre Plus Social Fund Budget area, not at constituency or local authority level. However that information cannot be split by gender.

Crisis Loans: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) men and  (b) women resident in (i) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and (ii) the London Borough of Bexley defaulted on Social Fund crisis loan repayments in the last five years for which figures are available; and what the total monetary value of such defaults was.

Steve Webb: The following information relates to the national position for crisis loan write-offs in the last five full financial years. The further detail by gender and location is not available/held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			   Total amount of crisis loans written off (£)  Total volume of crisis loans written off 
			 2009-10 545,205 6,649 
			 2008-09 567,076 7,001 
			 2007-08 467,071 5,696 
			 2006-07 473,320 5,379 
			 2005-06 910,219 11,237

Departmental Land

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will takes steps to reduce the size of his Department's estate; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: The Department aims to have an estate that: supports service needs; provides the right working environment for staff; and provides value for money for the taxpayer.
	DWP now own no estate assets of our own. Under a private finance initiative (known as PRIME), all market risks sit with Telereal Trillium at rent review and lease renewal and they use their prominent position in the market to ensure they obtain optimal outcomes.
	We will need fewer sites as our core staffing numbers reduce following the spending review 2010. DWP is still developing the detail on the size and scale of universal credit and, therefore, our estate reductions need to be made in the light of that context. We will ensure that the reduction of estate capacity is measured and prudent, and will not add to delivery risks.

Departmental Procurement

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many procurement projects with a monetary value greater than  (a) £10 million,  (b) £50 million and  (c) £100 million (i) his Department and (ii) each non-departmental public body and agency for which he is responsible was engaged upon in the latest period for which figures are available.

Chris Grayling: The information is as follows:
	 (a) The Department has let three contracts and the Health and Safety Executive, an Executive agency of the Department, has let one with a value in excess of £10 million and less than £50 million in the period from 1 April 2010 to 14 March 2011. No contracts with a monetary value of greater than £10 million have been let by a non-departmental public body.
	 (b) No contracts were let in the period with a value of between £50 million to £100 million by the Department or one of its non-departmental public bodies.
	 (c) No contracts with a value in excess of £100 million were let in the period by one of the Departments non-departmental public bodies.

Departmental Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what regulations his Department revoked between 8 February 2011 and 28 February 2011.

Chris Grayling: No regulations have been revoked by DWP between 8 February and 28 February 2011.

Disability Living Allowance

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the criteria for receiving the  (a) higher and  (b) lower rate of disability living allowance (i) are and (ii) were in each of the last five years; what changes to such criteria are planned; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Miller: The current criteria for receipt of disability living allowance broadly rely on a disabled individual having prescribed levels of care or mobility needs. Entitlement to the three rates of the care component is established by an individual having care needs at a prescribed level. For example, someone with who has care needs on a frequent or prolonged basis both day and night may be entitled to the highest rate care component. Entitlement to the mobility component does not work on a similar basis: the lower rate is available to people who require guidance or supervision when out of doors in unfamiliar places; and entitlement to the higher rate is, with some exceptions, available to people who, by virtue of a physical disability, are unable or virtually unable to walk. These entitlement criteria have remained unchanged over the last five years. Further details on the entitlement criteria are available on the Directgov website
	http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/DisabilityLivingAllowance/index.htm
	From April entitlement to the higher rate mobility component will extended to people who have been certified as blind or severely visually impaired by an ophthalmologist and have a prescribed degree of visual impairment.
	Awards of disability living allowance can currently be decided on the basis of self-reporting of need, and although medical evidence is sought for certain awards, it is not mandatory. The current system lacks consistency in the way it supports disabled people with similar needs; and decision making on awarding the benefit can be subjective. That is why from 2013 we will replace disability living allowance for people of working age with personal independence payment, a new, more transparent benefit with an objective assessment of individual need. Support through personal independence payment will be focussed on those who have the most barriers to overcome to live independently. The detailed criteria that will be used in the new assessment to determine eligibility are currently being developed and are being informed by the consultation which closed on 18 February. The Government are considering the feedback from this consultation exercise and will publish their response shortly.

Disability Living Allowance: Autism

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will bring forward proposals to amend the provisions of the Welfare Reform Bill which require people diagnosed with autism and in receipt of disability living allowance to undergo a face-to-face interview.

Maria Miller: We are considering the most appropriate delivery model for the personal independence payment assessment and no decisions have yet been taken on the detail of its operation, including how it will apply to existing DLA recipients. We believe that advice from a suitably trained and approved individual, for example a health care professional, will be an important part of ensuring that the assessment is more objective and consistent. In most cases, we expect this to involve a face-to-face consultation to enable an in-depth look at an individual's circumstances. Both I and departmental officials have met with the National Autistic Society to discuss our reform proposals and to seek their views on how the new benefit can best support those with autism. We agree with many of the points raised in the National Autistic Society's recent report on DLA reform, 'Who benefits?', and we are looking closely at how these recommendations can be incorporated into its design. To ensure that we get this reform right, we are keen to continue to work with disabled people and their organisations as the detail of the assessment criteria and its operation is developed and tested.

Disability: Children

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has for the future of the disability benefits system for children aged under 16.

Maria Miller: Personal independence payment will replace disability living allowance for working-age (16-64) adults from 2013 and the new objective assessment is being designed to gather information about adult needs. We want to build on the experience of developing an assessment and applying it to new and existing claimants of working-age to inform our decisions about the arrangements for children. Therefore we will not consider extending personal independence payment to new claims from children or to children already receiving DLA, until we have had an opportunity to consider the effectiveness of the new arrangements for working age people.
	In developing the arrangements for children on DLA we also want to take account of ongoing work across Government. The Department for Education's Green Paper "Support and aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability", published on 10 March, sets out the Government's aspiration to move towards a single assessment process for a child's social care, health and special educational needs. The Department for Education plan to test the approach starting this year and we will look at the findings of the pathfinders to explore whether the single assessment process might also be used to support claims for the disability living allowance and personal independence payment.

Employment and Support Allowance

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of claimants in the (i) assessment phase and (ii) work-related activity group of employment and support allowance whose claim was of a duration of up to three months moved into (A) employment and (B) employment of 16 hours a week or more in each quarter for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of claimants in the (i) assessment phase and (ii) work-related activity group of employment and support allowance whose claim was of a duration of three to six months moved into (A) employment and (B) employment of 16 hours a week or more in each quarter for which figures are available;
	(3)  how many and what proportion of claimants in the (i) assessment phase and (ii) work-related activity group of employment and support allowance whose claim was of a duration of between six and 12 months moved into (A) employment and (B) employment of 16 hours a week or more in each quarter for which figures are available;
	(4)  how many and what proportion of claimants in the (i) assessment phase and (ii) work-related activity group of employment and support allowance whose claim was of a duration of between one and two years moved into (A) employment and (B) employment of 16 hours a week or more in each quarter for which figures are available.

Chris Grayling: The information requested on those leaving employment support allowance (ESA) and moving into work is not available.
	Claimants leaving ESA are not required to inform the Department of their destinations or future intentions and hence the information that is collected on this group is incomplete.
	For information, the following table breaks down the ESA case load as at May 2010 by claim duration and phase of ESA in payment. These data are published on the DWP website.
	
		
			  Case  load (thousand) 
			   ESA claim duration (May 2010)  
			   Up to 3 months  3 months up to 6 months  6 months up to 1 year  1 year and up to 2 years  Total 
			 Assessment phase 136.05 74.03 74.46 36.31 320.85 
			 Work Related Activity Group 0.96 14.45 43.47 50.38 109.27 
			 Support group 0.69 5.4 16.08 16.94 39.11 
			 Unknown 13.54 17.84 15.83 10.68 57.89 
			 Total 151.23 111.73 149.85 114.31 527.12 
			  Note: Phase/stage of ESA claim is only available from February 2010 onwards. The phase is derived from payment details held on the source system. Where the claimant is not in receipt of any benefit payment then the stage of benefit is shown as unknown.

Employment and Support Allowance: Mental Illness

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to ensure that those with variable mental health conditions are not penalised for missing a work-focussed interview.

Maria Miller: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Darra Singh:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking about the steps taken to ensure that those with variable mental health conditions are not penalised for missing a Work-Focussed Interview (WFI).
	This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	We have in place a range of safeguards to ensure that vulnerable customers (including those with a mental health condition) are fully aware of the requirement to participate in a WFI. In particular, safeguard procedures for customers claiming Employment and Support Allowance include:
	advising the customer at the point of claim about the requirement to undergo, and the purpose of, the work-focussed interview;
	notifying the customer (in writing) of the date, time and place of the work-focused interview and asking them to get in touch if they cannot make it;
	contacting the customer (by telephone) before each work-focused interview to remind them that it is due;
	considering the context of each work-focused interview whether the interview should be waived or deferred;
	offering them a more convenient location or a home visit where appropriate, and encouraging advocacy support if needed;
	identifying any relevant issues from medical evidence where available, that might impact on attendance;
	visiting those customers with whom there has been no verbal contact prior to the work-focused interview; and
	visiting every customer, with a representative if appropriate, where it is known that the customer has a stated mental health condition or learning disability before a sanction is imposed.
	By following the steps above, we ensure that we will contact the customer by telephone two days before the interview is scheduled to take place, to make sure that the appointment is appropriate. If it becomes clear from the customer or their advocate, at this point or during the WFI itself, that the agreed timing of the WFI is inappropriate for the customer's particular circumstances at that time, the WFI may be postponed to a later date. If it is clear that the presence of a carer is important, we would seek to arrange the WFI around the carer's availability.
	For lone parents claiming income support, where there is evidence to believe that the customer falls into a vulnerable group, a home visit is always considered before a formal decision is made that they have failed to attend the work-focused interview.
	Before sanctions are considered (for any benefit) the customer will be invited to show good cause, and there is a right of appeal against the decision to apply a sanction. Factors considered by the Decision Maker in establishing whether the customer had good cause include whether the person may have misunderstood the requirement to take part in an interview because of their varying mental health condition, and whether the person was suffering from a disability that made it impracticable for them to attend.
	If a customer has failed to attend an appointment, or has committed another act or omission that warrants a sanction, then the Jobcentre Plus Decision Maker will consider all the available evidence before applying a sanction. This can of course include, but is not limited to, whether the failure was caused by a fluctuation in their health condition.

Employment Schemes

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he is taking steps to ensure that small and medium-sized enterprises can compete for contracts under the work programme.

Chris Grayling: Throughout the work programme competition the Department has emphasised the importance of and the expectation that bidding organisations will work with a broad range of sub-contractors and delivery partners to reflect the needs of the local customers and economies.
	In total 30 organisations have bid to be work programme prime contractors.
	As part of their bids, organisations have confirmed their intention to partner with a number of organisations of various sizes from all sectors who will be regular delivery partners during the lifetime of the work programme contracts.

Employment Schemes

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has made an estimate of the proportion of Work programme contracts which will awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises.

Chris Grayling: DWP has encouraged representation from small and medium enterprises in all its commercial competitions.
	For the Work programme, only those organisations that are on DWP's the Employment Related Support Services Framework were able to bid, details of these organisations are published on the Supplying DWP website.
	Until the commercial competition for the Work programme is complete we will not know which bidders have been successful or the size and type of organisations that will make up their supply chains.

Employment Schemes

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of compatibility with regulations on the national minimum wage of the requirement for jobseekers to undertake work experience placements under the Work programme.

Chris Grayling: Once a jobseeker's allowance claimant is selected or volunteers, our intention is that participation in the Work programme will be required using powers in regulations made under section 17A of the Jobseeker's Act 1995. We plan to lay these regulations before Parliament shortly.
	Where a Work programme provider requires a participant to complete work experience under these regulations, the activity concerned will be mandated and there will be no express or implied contract. Therefore the claimant will not fall within the definition of 'worker' and the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 will not apply.

Industrial Health and Safety: Inspections

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many workplaces registered an  (a) accident or  (b) incident with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in each year since 2000; and on what date prior to each incident and accident an unannounced inspection had been carried out by HSE officials in those workplaces for which such information is available.

Chris Grayling: The information requested is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Industrial Health and Safety: Inspections

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent  (a) submissions and  (b) representations he has received which propose an alternative workplace inspection model to the unannounced inspection model used by the Health and Safety Executive; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: The Secretary of State has the principal responsibility to Parliament for the Health and Safety Executive and routinely receives submissions and representations on their work. Recent submissions are concerned with a range of matters relating to the formulation and delivery of health and safety policy.

Pensions

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had on the levels of annuities offered by private pension providers.

Mark Hoban: I have been asked to reply.
	Treasury Ministers and officials have discussions with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such discussions.

Personal Independence Payment: Autism

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will put in place support for people with autism who lose eligibility for a personal independence payment or disability living allowance to take into account the challenges of adults with autism trying to access social care services.

Maria Miller: From 2013 we will replace disability living allowance for people of working age with personal independence payment, a new, more transparent and sustainable benefit with an objective assessment of individual need. Support through personal independence payment will be focused on those with the most need. The detailed design of the new assessment is currently being undertaken with the support of a group of independent specialists in health, social care and disability, including disabled people. This design will also be, informed by feedback from the public consultation which closed on 18 February 2011. I am, therefore, unable at this time to comment on the details of how the new assessment will impact on people with specific health conditions or impairments. We are committed to ensuring that it reflects the needs of all individuals effectively. We recognise that the current assessment criteria for disability living allowance can favour physical impairments and our proposals are that personal independence payment needs to improve the support provided to disabled people with mental, intellectual, cognitive and development impairments, including autistic spectrum disorders.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many investigations of individuals suspected of benefit fraud have taken more than nine months in the latest period for which figures are available.

Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available, as to collate this data would incur a disproportionate cost.

Third Sector

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what account he has taken of the Compact between the Government and Civil Society in policy development.

Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions takes the compact with the civil society very seriously and has worked closely with Local communities, voluntary sector organisations and others to embed the principles into our commissioning policies.

Third Sector

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department has taken to support the Big Society initiative.

Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions has several programmes aimed at achieving the Big Society goals of catalysing social action, decentralising power and opening up public services. In October 2010 the Department introduced two new initiatives, Work Clubs and Work Together, which form part of a new range of back-to-work support being made available to jobseekers to get Britain working. Work Clubs are designed to be locally led and delivered, moving away from centrally-determined support, while Work Together seeks to promote the benefits of volunteering and raise customer awareness of local opportunities. Both initiatives fit with the Government's Big Society concept in that they encourage people to play an active role within their communities and support unemployed people in the locality.
	With respect to benefits, the Government are introducing universal credit from 2013 to replace six separate benefits. This will reduce bureaucracy and make the system easier to navigate, but also place a greater emphasis on personal responsibility for finding employment. In addition, a number of Right to Control trailblazers across England are testing how disabled people can be given more choice and control over the funding they are eligible for, including funding to help them move into work. These trailblazers will help develop ways to create a more personalised service, pushing decision-making down to the lowest level. To replace Social Fund community care grants and crisis loans for general living expenses, locally-delivered systems of support will be provided. This will be delivered by local authorities in England and the devolved Administrations in Scotland and Wales. The new assistance will provide more relevant and better targeted support which can be aligned with existing provision at a local level.
	As part of its Big Society ambition for older people, the Department is working in partnership with the Community Development Foundation to provide £1 million to fund 'Active at 60', a project that will help older people who are most at risk of loneliness and social isolation. Each local community organisation within the selected areas will recruit at least one Active at 60 Community Agent who will volunteer their time to help motivate, encourage and organise people within their own communities to become more active, physically, socially and mentally.
	The Department is also working to develop older people's democratic involvement in their communities. These local networks will be linked through the English Forums on Ageing to the UK Advisory Forum on Ageing. The English Forums on Ageing also provide a channel of influence for older people on local delivery decisions and the aim is to build on these relationships to enable older people to take up the opportunities introduced in the Localism Bill.
	More generally, the Government's local agenda is leading Jobcentre Plus to look for ways to better utilise the expertise of front-line staff, who will be given more freedom to tailor and coordinate services in ways that best meet the needs of their community. The Department is committed to ensure that staff have the flexibility to work in real partnerships at the local level; and to respond to local and customers' needs, including looking at the scope for closer working with partners in the co-ordination, location and design of services. This approach to worklessness balances a national benefit system with a range of other support delivered through different channels-the Government's own delivery organisations, private providers, other public sector organisations and the voluntary and community sector.

Third Sector

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether  (a) he and  (b) Ministers in his Department are participating in volunteering activities as part of his Department's involvement in the Big Society initiative.

Chris Grayling: Lord Freud is a sponsor and board member of the charity 'Grand Mentors'. This is a charity where mainly older retired people mentor and tutor young individuals.
	Steve Webb volunteers at a local Sunday school every week.
	Iain Duncan-Smith is involved in the Big Society agenda via his work for the Centre of Social Justice.
	The Department has introduced a number-of programmes aimed at achieving the Government's Big Society goals. These include the following initiatives; Work Clubs and Work Together for jobseekers, Active at 60 for older people and the Right to Control for disabled people.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Public Bills: Internet

Natascha Engel: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the dedicated website for public reading stages of bills will inter-operate with the Your Freedom website.

Nicholas Clegg: The 'Your Freedom' website was open to the public from 1 July-10 September 2010, after which time it became part of the National Archives online. The site has therefore closed, meaning that there is no opportunity for it to inter-operate with live websites. The technical aspects of the Public Reading Stage website will be evaluated by the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Carbon Emissions: Housing

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2011,  Official Report, column 935W, on carbon emissions: biofuels, 
	(1)  which other energy generation technologies he defines as  (a) zero-carbon technologies and  (b) technologies which if used in domestic buildings would contribute nothing to their carbon emissions if it met the criterion of a minimum greenhouse gas emission saving of 60 per cent. over the use of a fossil fuel;
	(2)  whether he defines biomass as a technology which, if used in domestic buildings, would contribute nothing to their carbon emissions if it met the criterion of a minimum greenhouse gas emission saving of 60 per cent. over the use of a fossil fuel.

Gregory Barker: For practical purposes the Government regards technologies contributing to zero or low carbon policies as those which qualify for promotion under the provisions of the 2009 renewable energy directive. These include photovoltaics, sustainably-sourced biomass technologies (such as biomass combined heat and power, or energy from waste), hydro and wind. Other low carbon technologies include efficient ground and air sourced heat pumps.
	Developers may use biomass technologies to comply with the requirements of part L of the building regulations which are being developed to implement the Government's zero carbon homes policy. Emissions associated with the production and transport of the fuel are taken into account in other sectors.

Carbon Sequestration

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department's carbon capture and storage (CCS) competition will take into account the creation of a CCS infrastructure to support industry as well as power generation.

Gregory Barker: As set out in the information note "UK Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Commercial Scale Demonstration Programme: Delivering Projects 2-4 (Further Information)" available from:
	www.decc.gov.uk
	published by my Department in December, applicants to the demonstration programme may propose projects that involve oversized CCS infrastructure capable of capturing, transporting or storing CO2 exceeding the capacities required for the demonstration project. This could allow for future use by industrial CO2 emitters.
	We would expect that the additional cost of such oversizing of infrastructure be supported entirely by the applicant or other private sector investors without reimbursement by DECC and that it would not increase the overall risk to delivery of the demonstration project.

Climate Change: International Cooperation

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 22 October 2010,  Official Report, column 866W, on aviation: carbon emissions, if he will take steps to include the issue of global aviation emissions in the EU position for the Durban climate change conference.

Gregory Barker: The Government are committed to addressing emissions from international aviation and will continue to push actively for an ambitious global agreement on emissions reduction targets for both international aviation and maritime transport. At the EU Environment Council meeting on 14 March, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change and other EU Ministers reiterated, in Conclusions adopted by the Council on the follow-up to the Cancun climate conference, the need to address these emissions. We will continue to work through the EU to press for progress to be made at the meeting later this year in Durban.

Committee on Climate Change

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has made an assessment of the diversity of the range of scientific opinion on climate change that is represented on the Committee on Climate Change.

Gregory Barker: The Climate Change Act 2008 sets out a list of desirable expertise (including climate science, and other branches of environmental science), which is intended to broadly mirror the range of factors which the CCC is required to take into account in considering its advice. Taking this into account the membership of the CCC is kept under regular review with specific attention given to whether their work programme calls for additional expertise at either board level or by consulting outside when required.
	I believe the current membership of the CCC contains a good mix of the relevant expertise (including scientific), and creates a committee which is focused and dynamic.

Electricity Generation

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will take steps to ensure that studies of the cost of power generation technologies commissioned by his Department estimate separately the  (a) generation and  (b) carbon costs associated with such technologies.

Gregory Barker: DECC already ensures that estimates of power generation costs commissioned by the department estimate carbon costs and generation costs separately. The following information is an example of cost information from the last such study, by Mott MacDonald. DECC is currently undertaking an update of these cost estimates which will include the same level of detail.
	The following table is taken from Mott MacDonald (2010) and gives levelised cost estimates (average generation cost per megawatt-hour) for new build plants in the main large-scale electricity generation technologies in the UK, including both fossil fuel and low carbon plant, at current engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract prices. This demonstrates how the cost estimates are separated into component parts. The report and data sets DECC hold break this down further still.
	It should be noted that for the purposes of presentation, the table only gives either 'FOAK' (first-of-a-kind) prices or 'NOAK' (nth-of-a-kind) prices for each technology. The full report can be accessed via this link:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/statistics/projections/71-uk-electricity-generation-costs-update-.pdf
	
		
			  Table 1:  10% discount rate, 2009 project start at today's EPC prices, with mixed FOAK/NOAK 
			  Levelised cost  Gas CCGT  Gas CCGT with CCS (FOAK)  ASC coal  ASC coal with CCS (FOAK )  Coal IGCC (FOAK)  Coal IGCC with CCS (FOAK)  Onshore wind  Offshore wind (FOAK)  Offshore wind R3 (FOAK)  Nuclear PWR (FOAK) 
			 Capital costs 12.4 29.8 33.4 74.1 61.7 82.0 79.2 124.1 144.6 77.3 
			 Fixed operating costs 3.7 7.7 8.6 18.6 9.7 17.7 14.6 36.7 45.8 12.2 
			 Variable operating costs 2.3 3.6 2.2 4.7 3.4 4.6 - - - 2.1 
			 Fuel costs 46.9 65.0 19.9 28.7 20.3 28.3 - - - 5.3 
			 Carbon costs 15.1 2.1 40.3 6.5 39.6 5.5 - - - - 
			 Decomm and waste fund - - - - - - - - - 2.1 
			 CO2 transport and storage - 4.3 - 9.6 - 9.5 - - - - 
			 Steam revenue - - - - - - - - - - 
			 Total levelised cost 80.3 112.5 104. 5 142.1 134.6 147.6 93.9 160.9 190.S 99.0 
			  Source: Mott Macdonald (2010), UK Electricity Generation Costs Update 
		
	
	It should be noted that the estimates of levelised costs for different types of electricity generation are highly sensitive to the assumptions used for capital costs, fuel and EU ETS allowance prices, operating costs, load factor, and other drivers. Meaning that there is significant uncertainty around these estimates.

Electricity Generation

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent estimate he has made of the cost per megawatt hour, excluding the cost of carbon, of electricity generated from  (a) coal,  (b) biomass and  (c) oil in the latest period for which figures are available.

Charles Hendry: The table is taken from Mott MacDonald (2010) and gives levelised cost estimates (average generation cost per megawatt-hour) for new build coal and biomass plants. The Mott MacDonald report gives the cost estimates for the main large-scale electricity generation technologies in the UK, including both fossil fuel and low carbon plant, at current engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract prices. The Department does not have estimates for the cost of new oil plant.
	It should be noted that for the purposes of presentation, the table only gives either 'FOAK' (first-of-a-kind) prices or 'NOAK' (nth-of-a-kind) prices for each technology.
	The full report can be accessed via the following link:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/statistics/projections/71-uk-electricity-generation-costs-update-.pdf
	
		
			  Table 1: 10% discount rate, 2009 project start at today's EPC prices, with mixed FOAK/NOAK 
			  Levelised cost  ASC Coal  Large Biomass (FOAK) 
			 Capital costs 33.4 46.1 
			 Fixed operating costs 8.6 13.4 
			 Variable operating costs 2.2 2.5 
			 Fuel costs 19.9 31.2 
			 Carbon costs 40.3 - 
			 Total levelised cost 104.5 93.2 
			  Source: Mott Macdonald (2010), UK Electricity Generation Costs Update 
		
	
	It should be noted that the estimates of levelised costs for different types of electricity generation are highly sensitive to the assumptions used for capital costs, fuel and EU ETS allowance prices, operating costs, load factor, and other drivers, meaning that there is significant uncertainty around these estimates.

Electricity Interconnectors: Iceland

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2011,  Official Report, column 438W, on energy: EU action, what discussions he has had with his Icelandic counterpart on proposals for an electricity cable between Iceland and Great Britain.

Charles Hendry: I have not met the Icelandic Minister but my officials have had discussions with Icelandic power companies about the possibility of building an electricity interconnector between Iceland and Great Britain. At the Prime Minister's UK-Nordic-Baltic summit in January this year, which was attended by the Icelandic Prime Minister, it was agreed that the countries concerned should cooperate in areas of mutual interest, including ways of accelerating the low-carbon transition. This is an example of a project which could be of benefit to both the UK and Iceland. However, there are a number of regulatory, technical, legal and commercial issues which would need to be explored before any decision can be made by any potential developers on the viability of such a project. We will be taking forward any legal and regulatory issues which fall to Government with the appropriate Icelandic parties.

Fuel Poverty: Rural Areas

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the likely level of fuel poverty in rural areas in  (a) England,  (b) Wales and  (c) the UK.

Gregory Barker: In 2008, there were around 847,000 rural households in England that were fuel poor (equivalent to around 20% of all rural households).
	In Wales in 2008, there were around 152,000 rural households that were fuel poor (around 34% of all rural households in Wales).
	Combining most recent available data from each country of the UK leads to an estimate of around 1.275 million rural households in fuel poverty, around 24% of all rural households.

Fuel Poverty: Rural Areas

Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of the level of fuel poverty in rural areas in  (a) Totnes constituency,  (b) South Devon,  (c) the South West and  (d) England.

Gregory Barker: The following table shows the number of households and the number of rural households in fuel poverty in 2008, the latest year for which this information is available.
	
		
			  Thousand 
			  Geographical area  Number of households in fuel poverty  Number of rural households in fuel poverty 
			  (a) Totnes constituency 7 n/a 
			  (b) South Devon(1) 31 n/a 
			  (c) South West 339 152 
			  (d) England 3,335 847 
			 (1 )South Devon here comprises of the following local authorities: Plymouth, South Hams and Torbay. 
		
	
	The number of rural fuel poor households is not available for geographical areas smaller than Government office region.

Fuel: Prices

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential effects of speculation on oil prices.

Charles Hendry: Given the complex nature of the market, it is extremely difficult to distinguish financial players from physical players. Furthermore, not all financial market activity is speculative. For example, through their active participation in the market, hedgers can provide market liquidity and reduce price risk.
	We recognise that non commercial activity in financial oil markets can have a transitory impact on prices. The Government have not yet seen clear, robust evidence that this type of activity can have a long term price impact.

Hinkley Point C power station

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will take steps to provide support for communities adversely affected by the proposed Hinkley C connection project.

Charles Hendry: Support for communities affected by major infrastructure projects can be provided in a number of ways. Within the planning system, planning obligations and the Community Infrastructure Levy can be used to provide for site specific mitigation and for general infrastructure contributions. Developers may also work with communities outside these mechanisms to review benefits for the local area. An example is the recent community benefit protocol published by RenewableUK.
	In addition, Government are creating a framework of incentives for local authorities to deliver sustainable economic development. This includes consideration of proposals to deliver better incentives, through the business rates system, for local authorities to promote growth. The Local Government Resource Review will deliver proposals on this by July this summer.

Nuclear Power Stations

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of the safety of nuclear power plants in the UK.

Charles Hendry: In the light of the events in Japan, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, my right hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne), has called on the chief nuclear inspector, Dr Mike Weightman for a thorough report on the implications of the situation in Japan and the lessons to be learned. This will be prepared in close cooperation internationally with other nuclear regulators, with an interim report in May and a final report within six months.
	It is essential that we understand the full facts and their implications, both for existing nuclear reactors and any new programme, as safety is always our number one concern.

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Sheryll Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what consideration he has given to the potential effect on the UK's reputation as an investment destination of potential changes to the qualification criteria for projects already initiated arising from this review of Feed-in Tariffs.

Gregory Barker: We have always stated that the Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) scheme would be subjected to periodic reviews, including early reviews to consider any significant changes to the fundamentals affecting the operation of the scheme.
	We have been clear that there are no intentions to act retrospectively. Any changes implemented as a result of the review will only affect new entrants into the scheme.

Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what projection he has made of the level of take-up of solar photovoltaics for the Feed-in Tariff scheme in  (a) 2010-11 and  (b) 2011-12.

Gregory Barker: Modelling for projected take-up of Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) scheme was undertaken by the previous Administration prior to the implementation of the scheme. The projected uptake for new solar photovoltaics (PV) in 2010-11 was 20,309 and 34,544 for 2011-12.
	A copy of the projections can be found in the Libraries of the House.

Squatting

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many buildings on his Department's estate were occupied by squatters in each year between 2006 and 2010; and on how many occasions his Department sought interim possession orders to remove squatters from such buildings in each of those years.

Gregory Barker: Since its formation in October 2008, no buildings on the DECC estate have been occupied by squatters. Therefore no interim possession orders have been sought in that period.

Wind Power

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the Mott MacDonald report, UK Electricity Generating Costs update in determining the commercial viability of offshore wind.

Charles Hendry: DECC commissioned Mott MacDonald consultants to provide an updated assessment of electricity generation costs. The generation costs data provided by Mott MacDonald was used in the power market modelling by Redpoint consultants of options for electricity market reform(1). In modelling the generation and capacity mix under different scenarios, the Redpoint model looks at the commercial incentives to invest in different generation technologies.
	As part of the RO banding review, we are also reviewing the level of support for all renewables technologies accredited under the renewables obligation (RO) from 2013-14 to 2016-17, and will consult on any changes to RO bands this summer. As part of that process, we have asked our consultants Arup and Ernst and Young to provide updated assumptions on potential deployment and costs for each renewable electricity technology.
	(1) Details of the consultation on electricity market reform are available at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/emr/emr.aspx

Wind Power: Planning Permission

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what timetable he has set for taking decisions on consent on Round 2 offshore wind farm applications which have not yet been approved.

Charles Hendry: There are four remaining Round 2 offshore wind farms consent applications which are with the Department for consideration. These are large schemes which have the potential to impact (both on their own and in combination with other projects) on environmental resources and on the interests of organisations and people and so have to be given careful consideration. We are waiting for information from each of the developers involved in the projects but will determine the applications as soon as possible once all the issues raised have been thoroughly assessed.
	In the Major Infrastructure Planning Reform Workplan published in December, Ministers undertook to determine the pre-Planning Act schemes at the earliest opportunity. We are working to enable the cases to be determined at the earliest opportunity.

Wind Power: Planning Permission

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the time taken by his Department was to process each application for consent for Round 2 offshore wind developments which have so far been approved.

Charles Hendry: The time taken to process applications for those Round 2 offshore wind farm developments which have been approved are as follows:
	
		
			Months 
			 London Array Consented in December 2006 18 
			 Thanet December 2006 13 
			 Greater Gabbard February 2007 16 
			 Walney November 2007 20 
			 Gunfleet Sands II February 2008 8 
			 Sheringham Shoal August 2008 27 
			 West of Duddon Sands September 2008 29 
			 Lines October 2008 20 
			 Gwynt y Môr December 2008 37 
			 Humber Gateway February 2010 35 
		
	
	The time scales reflect the large scale of the Round 2 projects that have been dealt with (ranging from 64 MW with 18 turbines to 1,000 MW with up to 341 turbines) and the need for developers to consider and address a number of potentially complex issues raised during consultation, particularly the impacts of developments on navigation, civil and military aviation and birds. Satisfactory resolution of any such issues, which on occasion can take the developers some considerable time, is required before the Department can take decisions on the specific applications.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Battery Cages

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had on the introduction of a prohibition on battery cages for laying hens.

Caroline Spelman: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier to questions 6 and 7.

Dairy Farming

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the practice of intensive dairy farming; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: All dairy farming is covered by the Animal Welfare Act and the Farm Animal Welfare Regulations. These will apply equally to all livestock farms, regardless of scale.
	As long as these standards are met, the Government recognise that the UK market has a place for "sustainable intensification" and more traditional production and added-value production, to enable the industry to be competitive on UK, EU and global markets.

Fish Discards

Stephen Metcalfe: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had on reductions in fishing discards; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: I was delighted to participate in a recent high level meeting on discards with the EU Commission and other member states, who agreed with the UK that tackling discards must be a priority for common fisheries policy reform and that action must be taken now.
	There was a constructive and positive debate about measures needed as part of reform. The UK is clear that these must be practical, effective and developed in cooperation with industry.

Fish Discards

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proposals she has to reduce the incidence of fish discards.

Richard Benyon: The UK is working to eliminate discards through targeting the principal reasons for discarding. We continue to take action domestically-working with our fishing industry to increase the selectivity of fishing gears and improve the utilisation of unavoidable catches. We are also trialling a system of catch quotas to reduce discards and better control fishing mortality.
	The UK sees the reform of the common fisheries policy as key to solving this problem and will work hard to influence and shape the policy.

Animal Welfare

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding her Department allocated to research and development on  (a) sustainable farming and food and  (b) animal health and welfare in each of the last five years; and how much such funding she plans to allocate in each of the next four financial years.

James Paice: Table 1 shows DEFRA's expenditure on farming and food and animal health and welfare research and development over the last five financial years.
	
		
			  Table 1 
			  £ million 
			   DEFRA research and development spend on farming and food science  DEFRA research and development spend on animal health and welfare  Total DEFRA agricultural research and development spending 
			 2009-10 29 35 64 
			 2008-09 29 36 65 
			 2007-08 29 39 68 
			 2006-07 34 41 75 
			 2005-06 38 40 78 
			  Source: Data taken from the Science and Information System 
		
	
	DEFRA now allocates budgets on the basis of evidence, rather than research and development.
	Evidence is defined as reliable and accurate information that DEFRA can use to support sound decisions in developing, shaping, and evaluating policy. It includes research and development, monitoring and surveillance, economic and statistical analysis and modelling, secondary analysis and synthesis, and analysis of stakeholder views.
	Evidence allocations have been made for 2011-12 and are shown in Table 2 with the equivalent figures for 2010-11.
	
		
			  Table 2 
			  £ million 
			   Evidence budget allocations for farming and food  Evidence budget allocations for animal health and welfare 
			 2010-11 43 66 
			 2011-12 42 62 
		
	
	Final allocations for individual policy areas for subsequent years have not yet been determined as a proportion of the total available has been retained as a reserve. Flexibility in the evidence allocation process for 2012-13 onwards is essential so that we can adjust our investment in evidence to respond to developing challenges.
	Across all DEFRA policy areas, a total of £43 million evidence savings will be found by 2014-15 against a core DEFRA evidence baseline of approximately £210 million in 2010-11; this is in proportion to the overall cuts in DEFRA's programme spend. For comparison, the budget for evidence in 2009-10 was £213 million, of which £125 million was classified as research.

Animals: Crime

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding she has allocated over the period of the comprehensive spending review to reduce the level of illegal trade in animals and animal products.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA provides funding for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. Total funding levels for the next four years have yet to be agreed. The National Wildlife Crime Unit will be funded for the next two years.
	DEFRA provides no funding to delivery agents but continues to provide policy and risk advice to the UK Border Agency which has enforcement responsibility for illegal imports of animal products.

Common Agricultural Policy

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had on reform of the common agricultural policy; and if she will make a statement.

John Howell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had on reform of the common agricultural policy; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Spelman: Lord Henley attended Agriculture Council to represent the UK. I spent two days this week in Brussels where the Environment Council discussed CAP reform and met members of the European Parliament, including the officers and rapporteur of the Agriculture Committee, to discuss CAP reform as.-the European Parliament has the power of co-decision.

Cotton: EU Action

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on how many occasions she has raised the issue of cotton subsidies in the EU Council of Ministers; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: The UK has consistently argued in Brussels in favour of decoupling and against harmful export subsidies, although the specific subject of cotton subsidies has not been raised at the Agriculture Council itself in the period since May 2010.
	The forthcoming Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform negotiations will provide a major opportunity for the UK to raise this issue and seek an end to all coupled payments, including those to the cotton sector.

Dairy Farming: Animal Welfare

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research her Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the effects on animal welfare of zero-grazed dairy herds; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: Research ending in 2003 concluded that zero grazing systems were associated with higher than average lameness compared with other dairy farms. However, the level of stockmanship and housing were found to be better in zero grazing systems, as practised in the UK. Overall, the welfare of cows in zero grazing systems is equivalent to other dairy systems.
	We are currently funding another project to investigate the management and welfare of continuously housed cows.

Departmental Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what regulations her Department revoked between 3 February and 28 February 2011.

James Paice: The Department revoked the following two statutory instruments between 3 February and 28 February 2011:
	The Seed Marketing Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/2605)
	The Poultry Meat (Water Content) Regulations 1984 (SI 1984/1145).

Departmental Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what regulations her Department introduced between 9 and 28 February 2011.

Richard Benyon: The Department made the following 11 statutory instruments between 9 and 28 February 2011:
	1. Marine Licensing (Application Fees) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/564)
	2. Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (Commencement No 5, Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Order 2011 (SI 2011/556)
	3. Seed Marketing Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/463)
	4. Reporting of Prices of Milk Products (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/456)
	5. Bovine Semen (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/454)
	6. Poultrymeat (England) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/452)
	7. Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/451)
	8. Marine Licensing (Register of Licensing Information) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/424)
	9. Petroleum Act 1998 (Specified Pipelines) Order 2011 (SI 2011/423)
	10. Marine Licensing (Exempted Activities) Order 2011 > PART 3 (SI 2011/409)
	11. Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/405).

Oil: Accidents

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many oil spills at  (a) residential and  (b) commercial properties in each region were reported in each of the last five years.

Richard Benyon: The numbers of oil spills at residential and commercial premises are set out in the following tables. These figures are from the Environment Agency's National Incident Recording System and are split into Environment Agency regions.
	
		
			  Oil pollution incidents-commercial 
			   2006  2007  2008  2009  2010 
			 EA Wales 84 69 73 88 90 
			 Anglian 177 155 134 130 127 
			 Midlands 274 207 255 197 216 
			 North East 105 112 113 127 124 
			 North West 94 72 56 73 78 
			 Southern 96 94 80 114 123 
			 South West 190 169 136 135 121 
			 Thames 134 97 117 105 108 
		
	
	
		
			  Oil pollution incidents-residential 
			   2006  2007  2008  2009  2010 
			 EA Wales 43 36 34 36 53 
			 Anglian 68 80 78 59 62 
			 Midlands 56 64 51 35 56 
			 North East 25 19 22 13 17 
			 North West 15 16 16 11 9 
			 Southern 73 53 63 38 48 
			 South West 108 93 92 83 79 
			 Thames 37 49 32 41 48

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Community Development

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent steps his Department has taken to encourage citizen participation in local democracy.

Grant Shapps: The Government are taking forward a range of action to encourage participation in local democracy.
	On 7 December we launched a call for talented community champions to consider standing as local councillors in the upcoming local elections. We highlighted by a press notice on 13 February that there were just 50 days left for people to sign up as candidates in the elections. And throughout the year Government have supported the Local Government Leadership's website, where details about becoming a councillor can be found:
	www.beacouncillor.org.uk/
	To enable the public to act as 'armchair auditors', we are increasing the transparency of council spending, including by publishing on 7 February a draft Code of Recommended Practice for local authorities on data transparency.
	On 23 February we wrote to principal local authorities to emphasise the importance of their giving citizens the opportunity to access and experience their local democracy using modern communication methods; so they can blog, tweet and film during proceedings and disseminate their recordings or comments via social media networks.
	Our Localism Bill, which completed its Committee stage on 10 March, includes provisions that will give residents the power to instigate local referendums on any local issue, and to approve or veto in a referendum excessive council tax increases, and establishes a Neighbourhood Planning regime giving the whole neighbourhood a say, through a referendum, on whether proposals are acceptable.
	We have recently approved a further year's funding for the Participatory Budgeting Unit, a third sector organisation, to provide advice and guidance on Participatory Budgeting, which gives people a direct say over how part of a local budget is spent.
	We have continued to support Take Part, an active citizenship and leadership learning programme aimed at increasing the skills', knowledge and confidence of individuals to have more of a say in their local area. The Take Part website was. launched in February 2011 and can be viewed at:
	www.takepart.org
	We have continued the Empowerment Fund up until March 2012, supporting voluntary and community sector organisations to help people play a greater part in civic life.

Community Development

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent steps his Department has taken to improve facilities for local community use.

Andrew Stunell: The Department's goal is to put individuals and groups in the driving seat in their communities, with government playing an enabling role in building a big society.
	A key plank of this strategy will be delivered through the Localism Bill, which will introduce new Community Rights. The Community Right to Buy will give community organisations a better chance to bid to take over assets and facilities that are important to them to save them for community use.
	The Community Right to Challenge will hand the initiative to voluntary and community bodies with good ideas about how services could be run better or more cost effectively, ensure these ideas get a. fair hearing, and give them the time they need to organise themselves and develop their ideas to be able to bid to run the service.
	Local authorities will be required to maintain a list of public and private assets of community value. When the owner of a listed asset wants to sell it a window of opportunity will come into effect to give communities more time to develop a bid and raise the necessary capital. They will then be in a better position to bid to buy the asset when it comes on the market at the end of the window of opportunity.
	The new provision will help local communities to save important community assets, tackle social need and build up resources and employment in their neighbourhood in more innovative, enterprising and cost-effective ways. In particular, it will give communities the chance to save facilities threatened with closure that are important to them.
	The Department has also extended funding for the Asset Transfer Unit enabling it to continue to offer practical support to communities who want to take on community assets such as youth centres, libraries, museums and former town halls for the benefit of local people.
	We will provide support to help community organisations take advantage of their new rights. We are currently consulting on the detail of both rights-including the support which would be most helpful. These consultation documents can be viewed on the DCLG website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/decentralisation/localismbill/communityrights/

Community Relations

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent steps his Department has taken to improve community relations between different populations.

Andrew Stunell: Integration and positive relations between different populations are integral parts of the big society. As the Prime Minister set out in his recent speech in Munich, integration is fostered by meaningful and active participation in society, which is achieved by shifting the balance of power away from the state and towards the people, and by initiatives such as the National Citizen Service. DCLG also recently awarded the Church Urban Fund £5 million to promote interaction in local communities between people of different faiths, through a new programme called Near Neighbours. DCLG are considering what additional, specific activities are needed to improve integration and overcome divisions in communities. We are working to develop a cross-government approach by May 2011.

Departmental Land

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will take steps to reduce the size of his Department's estate; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government's Estate Strategy focuses on reducing the size and cost of its estate through the surrender of facilities at appropriate lease break/end opportunities, through the consolidation and collocation of business operations and by maximising space efficiency by further implementing flexible working practices.
	An example of our Strategy in action is where we are working to reduce the cost and size of the Government Offices for the Regions estate, in advance of their abolition on 31 March 2011. This work will reduce the size of that estate from 14 buildings currently to 10 buildings by the end of 2011-12 and down to seven by the end of the spending review period. The retained buildings will be used by a range of Government Departments.
	The Government announced in spending review 2010 that as a first step to introducing a more co-ordinated approach to property management in the central civil office estate it would set up, through the Government Property Unit, Property Vehicles for the Central London and Bristol office estates from 2011-12.
	Property Vehicles will be responsible for managing a more co-ordinated Government-wide approach to property. They will manage the estate strategically, achieving more efficient use of the property assets, as well as work with Departments to reduce their estates and maximise the commercial potential of their property portfolios.
	Furthermore the Government announced this month a new system of National Property Controls across the central civil estate. These controls require Departments to adopt a common, disciplined commercial approach to the use of the estate. These build on the success of the Lease Moratorium introduced in May 2010, which to-date has reduced property costs by around £50 million.
	The Department is co-operating fully with both these Government Property Unit led initiatives in order to drive down the size of the Department's estate.

Departmental Location

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will bring forward proposals to relocate  (a) staff and  (b) offices of his Department to Brighton; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not propose to relocate staff and/or offices to Brighton. This is due to the leasehold agreement signed by the last Administration on the Department's building at Eland house, Victoria.

Departmental Procurement

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many procurement projects with a monetary value greater than  (a) £10 million,  (b) £50 million and  (c) £100 million (i) his Department and (ii) each non-departmental public body and agency for which he is responsible was engaged upon in the latest period for which figures are available.

Bob Neill: No contracts with a monetary value of greater than £10 million have been awarded in the last financial year, 2009-10 or the current one, 2010-11.
	Information on costs incurred by public bodies sponsored by the Department is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Procurement

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which procurement projects engaged upon by  (a) his Department and  (b) each non-departmental public body and agency for which he is responsible had a designated senior responsible owner in the latest period for which figures are available; and on what date each officer was appointed in each such case.

Bob Neill: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	All contract awards over £20,000 would have a Senior Responsible Officer. Identifying them and ascertaining when they were appointed could be established only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether receipts from the sale of assets owned by regional development agencies are reflected in the spending plans of his Department for  (a) 2012-13 and  (b) 2013-14.

Bob Neill: Only £100 million of income from regional development agencies asset disposals in 2013-14 is incorporated in departmental spending plans. If this income is not fully realised we have contingency funding to meet any shortfall.

Departmental Rail Travel

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of civil servants in his Department are entitled to travel first class by rail within the UK.

Bob Neill: In line with the Government's announcement on 24 May 2010, all civil servants in the Department are expected to travel standard class unless they can demonstrate a good business reason for not doing so, for example when a first class ticket is cheaper than a standard ticket. Any first class travel must be agreed in advance by directors or above.

Departmental Written Questions

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of written questions tabled to him for answer on a named day between 27 May 2010 and 9 March 2011 did not receive a substantive answer on the day named for answer.

Bob Neill: The number of written questions for answer on a named day received by the Department for answer in the period 27 May 2010 to 9 March 2011 was 603. 14% of these (85 questions) were not answered substantively on the due date. The corresponding proportion for the 2009-10 Session was 18% (66 questions out of 371).
	The Government have committed to providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to written parliamentary question performance on a sessional basis. Statistics relating to Government Department's performance for the 2009-10 Session were recently provided to the committee and are available on the Parliament website.

Housing: Construction

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to take steps to encourage self-build home projects.

Grant Shapps: Self builders are already one of the country's largest house builders. They form an important part of the Government's strong commitment to increasing the supply of affordable and sustainable homes and promoting economic growth.
	This is why we have invited industry experts to work with us on a Government-Industry working group to prepare an action plan, which will set out the concrete steps needed to make it easier for people to build their own homes, whether on their own or as part of a community effort to create a new neighbourhood.
	The working group have identified finance availability as a key challenge to the growth of the industry. A sub-group of industry experts will be examining finance issues in detail, and will identify any actions that can be taken to support self builders. The group will be making recommendations to me by the summer.

Non-domestic Rates: Empty Property

Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans his Department has to review the rules relating to the requirement to pay rates on empty properties.

Bob Neill: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 8 February 2011,  Official Report, column 178W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Newark (Patrick Mercer).

Northwest Regional Development Agency

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he has made an assessment of the  (a) cost to the public purse and  (b) effect on employment levels in the North West of the transfer to the Department for Communities and Local Government of the North West Regional Development Agency's European regional development fund management support function.

Bob Neill: The transfer of this function is governed by the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice on Staff Transfers in the Public Sector 2000 (COSOP) which provides rights for the transfer of the existing staff. All those who work for at least half their time on the European Regional Development Fund will transfer to the Department for Communities and Local Government. The precise costs and employment impacts were assessed on this basis, and will become clearer post transition.

Trade Unions

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidelines his Department issues to local authorities on payments to trade unions  (a) in cash and  (b) in kind.

Bob Neill: No guidance was issued by the last Government. Individual councils, in their role as employers, are responsible for the decisions about how to manage their workforce, interact with local trade unions and ensure value for money for the taxpayer.
	The new Government's transparency agenda will help ensure that cash payments to trade unions and the titles of staff posts are open to public scrutiny.
	At a time when councils need to make sensible savings to help pay off the budget deficit, councillors will rightly wish to review the merits of (full-time) union officials funded by the taxpayer and the provision of the office facilities to trade unions.

EDUCATION

Academies

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the minimum required number of pupils in a school to support academy status in  (a) primary and  (b) first schools.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 31 January 2011
	 There is a legal requirement under independent school regulations, which apply to all academies, for there to be a minimum of five students of compulsory school age per independent school. The Department issues no separate requirement regarding the number of pupils required for academy status and each application is considered separately. Collaboration with other schools is encouraged for all types of academy, either as part of a formal partnership or joining an existing academy trust with a proven track record of school improvement. This may be particularly attractive to small schools wishing to share resources. In general, head teachers and school governors will be best placed to know what will work for their school.

Academies

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools approached his Department to request advice on conversion to academy status between May 2010 and January 2011.

Nick Gibb: The Department has responded to large volumes of telephone and e-mail inquiries from schools seeking advice about converting to academy status, although numbers of such inquiries are not recorded. Between May 2010 and the end of January 2011 the Department received 2,611 specific Registrations of Interest in becoming an academy under the Academies Act.

Academies: Pupil Exclusions

Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the effect on the number of pupils excluded from school of trends in the number of schools becoming academies; and what provision he plans to make for pupils excluded from such academies.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 15 March 2011
	I do not expect to see any significant changes in exclusion figures as a result of more schools converting to academy status.
	Under current arrangements, pupils who have been permanently excluded from an academy will become the responsibility of the local authority who will find appropriate educational provision for that pupil. All academies must take part in the local in-year Fair Access Protocol which requires them to admit their fair share of challenging pupils of which some are likely to have been excluded from another school.
	We intend to test a new approach to permanent exclusions where schools have a duty to arrange alternative provision for excluded pupils. The objective of this policy is to improve outcomes for pupils at risk of exclusion or who have been permanently excluded from school.

Academies: Rotherham

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will place in the Library a copy of each  (a) letter and  (b) email his Department has received of support for the Three Valleys Independent Academy, Rotherham.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 10 March 2011
	As part of their initial proposal, Three Valleys Independent Academy provided the Department with representations from 423 supporters. The majority of these representations are as part of a petition or a short standard statement of support. As such, we regard them as made in confidence to the proposer and do not think it would be appropriate to provide the Library with a copy of each.

Aiming High for Disabled Children

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has for the future provision of funding through the Aiming High for Disabled Children grant in  (a) Bolton South East constituency,  (b) Bolton.

Sarah Teather: Funding for disabled children's services will be provided through the new early intervention grant (EIG). We have made over £800 million available to local authorities over the spending review period for the provision of short breaks for disabled children and their families, which represents a small increase in available funding compared with the 2010-11 financial year.
	As this figure is not ring fenced it will be for local authorities to determine how they use that resource to best effect, including what services would be funded for families with disabled children.
	Local authorities received details of their EIG allocation just before Christmas.

Building Schools for the Future Programme: Sandwell

James Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  how much interest is due under private finance initiative arrangements to the equity holders of the Building Schools for the Future Wave 3 Project number PRJ-S148 commissioned by Sandwell metropolitan borough council;
	(2)  how much funding has been allocated through private finance initiative arrangements to the Building Schools for the Future Wave 3 project number PRJ-S148 commissioned by Sandwell metropolitan borough council;
	(3)  if he will estimate the capital value of the Building Schools for the Future Wave 3 project number PRJ-S148 commissioned by Sandwell metropolitan borough council;
	(4)  what the company name is of each equity holder of the Building Schools for the Future Wave 3 project number PRJ-S148 commissioned by Sandwell metropolitan borough council;
	(5)  if he will estimate the total interest payments to be paid to the equity holders of the Building Schools for the Future Wave 3 project number PRJ-S148 commissioned by Sandwell metropolitan borough council;
	(6)  if he will estimate the total level of payments to be made to the equity holders of the Building Schools for the Future Wave 3 project number PRJ-S148 commissioned by Sandwell metropolitan borough council;
	(7)  what estimate he has made of the capital value spent through private finance initiative on the Building Schools for the Future Wave 3 project number PRJ-S148 commissioned by Sandwell metropolitan borough council;
	(8)  what the cost to the public purse is of the Building Schools for the Future Wave 3 project number PRJ-S148 commissioned by Sandwell metropolitan borough council.

Nick Gibb: The Building Schools for the Future project number PRJ-S148 is still in the construction phase and no interest is due to be paid until the schools enter into operation. There are three schools on the site, opening on a phased basis over approximately three months from late February.
	£67.45 million of PFI credits have been allocated to the project. The capital value is estimated to be £51.1 million.
	The equity holders of the project are Interserve, Barclays Private Equity, Building Schools for the Future Investments, Sandwell metropolitan borough council and Sandwell Futures Ltd.
	Information about the estimated total interest payments to be paid and the total level of payments to be made to equity holders of the project is contained within documentation which is defined as commercially sensitive information in accordance with the terms of the project agreement entered into by Sandwell metropolitan borough council and the contractor.
	In terms of cost to the public purse, the total unitary charge forecast to be paid over the life of the contract is £176.8 million. In addition to the cost of construction and financing, this covers maintenance, life cycle and facilities management costs over 25 years.

CAFCASS

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he has received reports of Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service managers allocating cases to practitioners without the consent of that practitioner.

Tim Loughton: The Department does not record specific information on representations received about the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service managers allocating cases to practitioners without the consent of that employee.
	Searches of the Department's correspondence system have not located any such reports.

Early Intervention Grant Allocations

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the amount of money which local authorities will be expected to hold back from their early intervention grant allocation to facilitate results-based payments in  (a) 2011-12 and  (b) 2012-13;
	(2)  when he plans to announce early intervention grant allocations for  (a) 2012-13 and  (b) 2013-14;
	(3)  which 20 local authorities have had the greatest reduction in the level of their early intervention grant allocation for 2010-11;
	(4)  how much funding he has drawn from other Departments for the purposes of funding the early intervention grant.

Sarah Teather: The Early Intervention Grant is an un-ring-fenced and un-hypothecated grant. Local authorities are therefore free to decide, taking into account the views of their communities, how best to use it, including developing their own payment by results systems at a local level. The Department has as yet not published proposals for results-based payments and will work with a small number of local authorities to trial new approaches.
	The Secretary of State for Education, the right hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), announced indicative allocations for the Early Intervention Grant on 13 December 2010 for 2011-12 and 2012-13. Final allocations for 2011-12 will be announced before the beginning of the new financial year. Similarly, it is expected that final allocations for 2012-13 will be announced in March 2012. Indicative allocations for 2013-14 have not been announced and no date has been set although they are likely to be published as part of the local government settlement in December 2012, with final allocations being announced in the following March.
	The Early Intervention Grant (EIG) did not exist-in 2010-11. However, funding within the grant in 2011-12 has been allocated in a transparent way with a focus on disadvantage, prevention and a premium on early years. Most of the EIG has been allocated using the Department's existing early years formula, with the remainder allocated according to a youth services formula. A notional 2010-11 baseline for each authority based on an aggregation of 2010-11 predecessor grants was created and a floor was applied to the 2011-12 allocations so that no authority loses more than 12.9% compared to their 2010-11 baseline. Half of the authorities sit on this 12.9% floor and so it is not possible to name 20 local authorities who have had the greatest reduction in the level of their EIG allocation.
	The new Early Intervention Grant will provide a substantial funding stream to enable local authorities to act more strategically and target investment early, where it will have greatest impact. The grant provides local authorities with funding to support early intervention and preventative programmes. Funding for the grant has been provided as part of the DFE spending review settlement. Further additional funding of £10 million from the Home Office to go into the Early Intervention Grant was announced on 2 February 2011.
	Further details can be found at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/inthenews/inthenews/a0070450/written-ministerial-statement-by-the-secretary-of-state-for-education-on-schools-financial-settlement-education-spending

Education Maintenance Allowance

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2011,  Official Report, column 80W, on the education maintenance allowance, how many  (a) current students and  (b) students who were surveyed as part of the National Foundation for Education Research study into education maintenance allowance attained (i) at least four A* to C grades at GCSE, (ii) at least five D to G grades at GCSE and (iii) at least one GCSE qualification.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 17 January 2011
	There are no administrative data on GCSE attainment by receipt or non-receipt of education maintenance allowance (EMA).
	The research carried out by National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER), working in partnership with Triangle and QA Research, was based on a sample of young people who were chosen to be representative of young people aged 16 and 17 in terms of their prior attainment as well as other factors, for example, gender, and post-16 destination. The following table sets out prior attainment of young people sampled compared with those nationally. The study did not explore GCSE attainment by receipt or non-receipt of EMA.
	
		
			  Summary of achieved sample by key characteristics compared with national data 
			  Percentage 
			   Self-reported  CCIS local data  National dataset 
			  Gender
			 Male 50 50 51 
			 Female 50 50 49 
			 
			  Achievement
			 5+ A*-C 69 n/a 68

Education Maintenance Allowance: Bolton South East

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many students will have their education maintenance allowance payments terminated before their programme of study is complete in  (a) Bolton South East constituency,  (b) Bolton and  (c) England.

Nick Gibb: The information requested is not available centrally as we do not hold data which links EMA recipients to the courses they take or the duration of their courses.

Education Maintenance Allowance: Comprehensive Spending Review

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the costs to the public purse of replacing education maintenance allowance over the comprehensive spending review period; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 10 February 2011
	We are working with the Young People's Learning Agency, which administers the education maintenance allowance (EMA) on behalf of the Department for Education, to assess any costs that may arise from the replacement of EMA with a package of financial support that is better targeted to those students facing the greatest financial barriers to participation.

Education: Finance

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he has assessed the average cost per pupil of educating children aged 16 to 18 years in  (a) school sixth forms and  (b) further education colleges.

Nick Gibb: The Government fund 16-19 education on the basis of average costs for particular types of courses. The funding paid to schools and colleges takes account of the different programme types and the number of hours required. These costs are reviewed annually.
	The White Paper "The importance of teaching", published in November 2010, set out the Government's commitment to end the disparity in funding for 16 to 18-year-olds so that by 2015 schools and colleges are funded at the same level as one another.

Education: Ofsted

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will take steps to require Ofsted to take into account pupil success rates when assessing the education provided by school sixth forms.

Nick Gibb: Ofsted supports the work of the Department for Education and Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to develop standard performance measures for all 16-18 provision, including work to develop success rates for school sixth forms. When standardised performance data becomes available, inclusive of all 16-18 provision, Ofsted will use the data provided in a consistent way across all the remits it inspects.

EU Educational Policy

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  how many EU-branded diaries schools in England received in 2010;
	(2)  what discussions his Department has had with the European Commission on the sending of EU-branded diaries to schools; and if he will make a statement.

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the cost was of the 350,000 EU-produced school diaries distributed to UK schools to  (a) the Government and  (b) the EU.

Nick Gibb: The Department has not had any discussions with the European Commission about the EU branded diaries. In addition, I refer my hon. Friends to the replies given by the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my noble Friend, Lord Howell of Guildford, on 7 February 2011,  Official Report, House of Lords, columns WA15-16 and on 1 March 2011,  Official Report, House of Lords, column WA304, to questions about the diaries.

EU Youth on the Move Strategy

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the  (a) likely effect on and  (b) cost to his Department of the implementation of the EU Youth on the Move strategy; which policies of his Department will be affected; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: There are no direct policy implications for the Department arising from the European Commission's Youth on the Move Strategy. It is up to EU member states to decide what action, if any, should be taken in response to the strategy, in the light of their own circumstances and national policies. We expect more detail on the actions proposed under the strategy to emerge over the next 12 months. The Government will closely examine these proposals, to ensure that they support and supplement domestic policy, and do not result in an increase in EU competence in the field of education. We will also make an assessment of the likely costs involved in the process.

Family Rights Group: Finance

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has for the funding for the Family Rights helpline from March 2011; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah Teather: The Department opened a new procurement process on 6 December 2010 to fund family support telephone helplines and online services from April 2011. One of the aims of the family services procurement is to support children and young people in England through supporting their parents and families, with a particular focus on early intervention support for the most disadvantaged parents and families with early intervention. The Family Rights Group was eligible to submit an application under this process.
	The procurement process was delayed in January while we considered the full implications for the family sector after the Department for Education's spending review settlement. Departmental officials contacted organisations on 25 February about the outcome of their applications under the first stage of the procurement process. For those organisations invited to submit bids under the second stage of the process, officials also provided full details of the tender and a revised procurement timetable.
	In view of the delay, officials contacted the Family Rights Group and other organisations currently in receipt of departmental funding to provide telephone helpline and online services on 25 February offering them extensions to their existing grants or contracts for up to three months from 1 April 2011. This will ensure continuity of service provision to families for the duration of the current procurement exercise.
	I will write to the hon. Member to let her know the outcome of the procurement process once it is completed.

Food Technology: Education

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has for the retention of the requirement that all Key Stage 3 pupils should receive at least 24 hours of practical cookery lessons.

Nick Gibb: On 20 January the Secretary of State announced that we are conducting a review of the national curriculum at both primary and secondary levels. This review will include consideration of the status of design and technology (and all its constituent modules).

Free Schools

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the average cost per pupil of free schools  (a) including and  (b) excluding start-up costs.

Nick Gibb: Revenue funding for free schools is on an equivalent basis to maintained schools and academies in the same local authority. Every free school is different and the costs will vary between projects. Many of these costs are yet to be determined and paid, so it is not currently possible to calculate the average cost per pupil of free schools. Full details of the support costs of free school projects will be made available shortly after a free school opens, when a total figure is known.

Free Schools

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which free schools have had their business case and funding agreement approved; and how much funding has been allocated in each case for  (a) acquisition,  (b) major works and  (c) other costs.

Nick Gibb: 11 Free School proposals have had their business case and plans approved and are at the pre-opening stage.
	The Secretary of State has now signed the first funding agreement, for the West London Free School in the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. As the acquisition of the permanent site has yet to be completed, we are unable to release details of the acquisition or refurbishment costs at this stage.
	For other costs such as support costs for Free School projects, we have yet to finalise them and these will be made available when the school opens.

GCSE : Mathematics and English

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the average proportion of pupils per school  (a) nationally and  (b) in the London borough of Lambeth was who achieved five or more GCSEs including mathematics and English at grade (i) A*, (ii) A or above, (iii) B or above and (iv) C or above in the latest period for which figures are available.

Nick Gibb: The information requested is in the following table and covers pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 in maintained secondary schools that were published in the 2010 Secondary School Performance Tables.
	
		
			Average number of pupils per school achieving 5 or more GCSEs including English and mathematics at grades: 
			   Average number of pupils per school at the end of Key Stage 4  A*  A*-A  A*-B  A*-C 
			 London borough of Lambeth 107.7 0.5 4.6 18.5 48.0 
			 England 151.5 2.1 13.3 36.6 75.9

Music: Education

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether the review of music education led by Darren Henley will consider the ability of children whose families cannot afford to pay for lessons to learn a musical instrument.

Nick Gibb: We want every child to learn a musical instrument and to sing. We are making a substantial investment in music services because we are determined that every child will have access to a quality music education, including those from families that cannot afford to pay for private lessons. We have protected money to the front line, and we shall be setting out our plans, later this year, in a National Plan for Music Education, which will set out proposals for how music services can continue to provide access to good quality music education for all children in state funded schools.

Music: Education

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has for future standards of music tuition in  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools.

Nick Gibb: Following the review carried out by Mr Henley we are making a substantial investment into music education because we are determined that every child will have access to a quality music education.
	We shall be setting out our plans on music tuition, later this year, in a National Plan for Music Education and in a Teach Music First programme, which will enable our best young musicians to spend time teaching in schools.

Primary Education: Finance

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the proportion of funding for primary and secondary education in England derived from  (a) public and  (b) private sources in the latest period for which figures are available.

Nick Gibb: Private income in each of primary and secondary local authority maintained schools in England accounted for 0.8% of their respective incomes for the financial year 2009-10. Hence the remaining 99.2% of funding within each phase was derived from public sources.
	These data are taken from the 2009-10 Section 251 Outturn statements submitted by local authorities to the Department. All figures are available on the DfE website:
	http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/xls/o/outturn%20summary%202009%2010.xls

Pupils: Disability

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has for the future provision of funding for children with disabilities in  (a) West Ham constituency,  (b) Newham and  (c) London through the Aiming High for Disabled Children grant.

Sarah Teather: Funding for disabled children's services will be provided through the new Early Intervention Grant (EIG). We have made over £800 million available to local authorities over the spending review period for the provision of short breaks for disabled children and their families, which represents a small increase in available funding compared to the 2010-11 financial year.
	As this figure is not ring-fenced it will be for local authorities to determine how they use that resource to best effect, including what services would be funded for families with disabled children.
	Local authorities received details of their EIG allocation for 2011-12 and 2012-13 just before Christmas.

Schools

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will bring forward proposals to promote vertical integration between primary and secondary schools.

Nick Gibb: It is important for primary and secondary schools to work closely together, particularly at the transition point between primary and secondary, to ensure children who are struggling are getting the help they need. But getting the fundamentals of literacy and numeracy right early on is crucial to a child's success in secondary education and throughout their adult life.
	We are committed to raising standards in literacy, and ensuring that no child gets left behind at school. As set out in our White Paper, one of the ways we aim to achieve this goal is by strengthening the use of systematic synthetic phonics in the teaching of reading. We are introducing a new phonics screening check for children in Year 1, which will help to ensure that six-year-old children have grasped the essential phonics that underpin good reading as well as identify the children who need extra help so they are given support by their school to improve their reading skills.
	Our White Paper also set out our commitment to mathematics specialism in primary schools. It also reiterated our belief that schools are best placed to make decisions about pupils' needs and about school improvement.

Schools

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his policy is on the establishment of schools for pupils aged between 14 and 19.

Nick Gibb: We recognise the importance of education and training for 14 to 19-year-olds and the need for opportunities allowing them to follow the curriculum most appropriate to them.
	In addition to raising standards at existing schools the Government are supporting and incentivising innovation which is firmly linked to employer needs by establishing different types of academy, including university technical colleges (UTCs) and studio schools, which are specifically aimed at vocational education for 14 to 19-year-olds.
	We expect the vast majority of 14 and 15-year-olds to follow the national curriculum and take GCSEs and, where appropriate, other qualifications at level 2. In her report which was published on 3 March 2011, Professor Alison Wolf is supportive of young people under 16 being able to enrol in further education colleges and UTCs, but she stresses the importance of a core academic programme for all pre-16, regardless of the type of educational institution a young person is attending. We are currently considering all of Professor Wolfs recommendations and will publish a Government response in the spring.
	There are currently three sponsored academies (including one UTC and one 'standalone' studio school), one studio school within a maintained school, 10 community, one community special, two foundation and five voluntary controlled schools, all with a 14 to 19 age range.

Schools: Closures

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what consultations he has undertaken on the proposal to give the Secretary of State power to close schools that have received an intervention order.

Nick Gibb: The Secretary of State for Education currently only has the power to direct a local authority to close one of their maintained schools where it is eligible for intervention as a result of it being judged by Ofsted as requiring special measures. The Education Bill extends this power to those schools which are, not only eligible for intervention because they require special measures, but also to those which are eligible for intervention as a result of being judged by Ofsted as requiring significant improvement or those which have failed to comply with a performance standards and safety warning notice.
	"The Importance of Teaching" Schools White Paper, which was published in November, set out the Government's plans to tackle consistent underperformance. In particular it highlighted the Government's aim to transform some of the most challenging schools in the country by imposing Academy solutions. The White Paper outlined the provisions which would be taken in the Education Bill to strengthen the Secretary of State's intervention powers and set out the plan:
	"to extend the Secretary of State's closure powers to schools subject to a notice to improve."
	During the development of the White Paper, and since its publication, Ministers and officials have had regular engagement with interested parties and discussed the key issues and policies of importance to them. This has allowed us to take on board the views of a range of organisations and interested parties. These discussions will continue now the Bill is at the Committee stage.

Schools: Ethnic Groups

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of pupils attending  (a) Church of England,  (b) Catholic,  (c) other denominational or faith and  (d) other maintained (i) secondary and (ii) primary schools in (A) Greater London and (B) nationally were from each ethnic group in academic year 2009-10.

Nick Gibb: The requested information is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Maintained primary and state-funded secondary schools( 1,2) : percentage of pupils by ethnic group( 3,4)  by religious character of the school. as at January 2010 in greater London and England 
			  Pupils of compulsory school age and above 
			Maintained primary schools( 1) 
			Greater London  England 
			Church of England  Roman Catholic  Other religious character  No religious character  Church of England  Roman Catholic  Other religious character  No religious character 
			 White  49.3 51.4 70.2 41.5 86.1 78.7 81.7 76.3 
			  White British 39.6 33.8 59.5 30.8 82.5 70.1 76.9 71.9 
			  Irish 0.4 4.0 0.1 0.3 0.2 1.7 0.1 0.2 
			  Traveller of Irish heritage 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.1 
			  Gypsy/Roma 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 
			  Any other White background 9.2 13.2 10.7 10.0 3.2 6.6 4.6 3.9 
			   
			 Mixed  9.8 9.7 4.6 8.6 3.6 5.3 3.3 4.4 
			  White and Black Caribbean 3.0 2.3 0.2 2.7 1.0 1.4 0.6 1.4 
			  White and Black African 1.3 1.4 0.2 1.1 0.4 0.7 0.3 0.5 
			  White and Asian 1.5 1.6 0.6 1.3 0.9 1.0 0.7 1.0 
			  Any other Mixed background 4.0 4.4 3.6 3.5 1.3 2.1 1.7 1.6 
			   
			 Asian  8.5 6.4 9.5 22.7 5.2 5.4 8.2 11.5 
			  Indian 1.7 2.1 5.2 6.3 1.4 2.1 2.9 2.9 
			  Pakistani 1.2 0.2 3.0 5.1 2.4 1.2 4.4 4.9 
			  Bangladeshi 3.5 0.2 0.6 6.6 0.8 0.2 0.3 2.1 
			  Any other Asian background 2.0 3.8 0.8 4.6 0.6 1.8 0.6 1.5 
			   
			 Black  26.2 26.5 7.2 20.2 3.3 8.1 3.1 5.1 
			  Black Caribbean 9.5 5.4 1.4 5.9 1.1 1.7 0.5 1.4 
			  Black African 13.9 18.1 4.9 12.2 1.8 5.3 2.2 3.1 
			  Any other Black background 2.8 3.0 1.0 2.1 0.4 1.0 0.4 0.6 
			   
			 Chinese  1.0 0.4 0.1 0.7 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.4 
			   
			 Any other ethnic group  4.1 4.9 6.4 5.3 0.8 1.7 2.1 1.6 
			   
			 Classified(4)  98.8 99.2 98.1 99.0 99.3 99.4 98.8 99.3 
			   
			 Unclassified(5)  1.2 0.8 1.9 1.0 0.7 0.6 1.2 0.7 
			   
			 Minority ethnic pupils(6)  59.2 65.4 38.7 68.2 16.9 29.3 21.9 27.4 
			   
			 All pupils(7)  100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
		
	
	
		
			  Pupils of compulsory school age and above 
			State-funded secondary schools( 1,2) 
			Greater London  England 
			Church of England  Roman Catholic  Other religious character  No religious character  Church of England  Roman Catholic  Other religious character  No religious character 
			 White  40.9 47.8 39.9 45.7 80.0 79.4 75.2 81.7 
			  White British 33.6 32.9 29.3 36.9 76.7 71.2 70.6 78.2 
			  Irish 0.4 4.2 0.2 0.4 0.2 1.9 0.3 0.2 
			  Traveller of Irish heritage 0.0 0.1 (8)- 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 
			  Gypsy/Roma 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
			  Any other White background 6.8 10.6 10.3 8.2 3.0 6.2 4.2 3.1 
			   
			 Mixed  7.8 8.4 6.4 7.5 3.7 4.5 3.6 3.4 
			  White and Black Caribbean 2.4 2.2 2.4 2.5 1.2 1.4 1.1 1.2 
			  White and Black African 1.0 1.1 0.7 0.9 0.4 0.5 0.3 0.3 
			  White and Asian 1.1 1.4 0.4 1.1 0.7 0.9 0.7 0.7 
			  Any other Mixed background 3.3 3.7 2.9 2.9 1.4 1.7 1.5 1.2 
			   
			 Asian  12.7 7.7 10.4 21.4 5.9 4.6 9.5 8.4 
			  Indian 2.8 2.7 5.8 7.1 1.9 1.7 4.0 2.6 
			  Pakistani 1.2 1.0 1.4 4.6 1.7 1.0 3.4 3.3 
			  Bangladeshi 5.3 0.6 2.0 5.4 1.2 0.3 1.0 1.4 
			  Any other Asian background 3.4 3.5 1.2 4.3 1.1 1.6 1.0 1.2 
			   
			 Black  31.3 29.0 16.0 18.1 7.4 8.3 4.9 3.8 
			  Black Caribbean 10.4 7.2 7.4 5.9 2.4 2.1 1.7 1.2 
			  Black African 17.4 18.7 7.0 10.5 4.1 5.3 2.6 2.1 
			  Any other Black background 3.6 3.1 1.6 1.7 0.8 0.9 0.6 0.4 
			   
			 Chinese  1.2 0.4 0.4 0.8 0.5 0.3 0.6 0.4 
			   
			 Any other ethnic group  4.8 5.0 6.3 5.0 1.3 1.6 1.9 1.1 
			   
			 Classified(4)  98.7 98.3 79.3 98.5 98.8 98.8 95.7 98.8 
			   
			 Unclassified(5)  1.3 1.7 20.7 1.5 1.2 1.2 4.3 1.2 
			   
			 Minority ethnic pupils(6)  65.1 65.4 50.0 61.6 22.1 27.6 25.1 20.5 
			   
			 All pupils(7)  100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes city technology colleges and academies. (3. )Pupils of compulsory school age and above were classified according to ethnic group. Excludes dually registered pupils. (4) Number of pupils by ethnic group expressed as a percentage of all pupils of compulsory school age and above. (5) Information refused or not obtained. (6) Includes all pupils classified as belonging to an ethnic group other than White British. (7) All pupils of compulsory school age and above. (8) Percentage based on less than five pupils.  Source: School Census and EduBase

Schools: Warrington

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent discussions he has had on the school building programme in Warrington; and when he expects to announce those school building projects which are to go ahead.

Nick Gibb: The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), has had no discussions on the school building programme in Warrington. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools, my noble Friend Lord Hill, has had two discussions about school buildings with the hon. Member for Warrington South (David Mowat) on 26 July and 25 November last year. The hon. Member for Warrington North took part in the latter discussion.
	No further announcements on capital for maintained schools will be made for 2011-12. Details of capital from 2012-13 will depend on the outcome of the capital review and we aim to publish the final report shortly. However, the level of support for basic need and for capital maintenance for each year to 2014-15 is expected to stay in line with the total amount allocated for 2011-12.

Schools: Wolverhampton

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when schools and further education colleges in Wolverhampton will be informed of their allocation of discretionary learner support for 2011-12.

Nick Gibb: We will be announcing details of the new arrangements for financial support for young people 16-19 shortly.

Sexualisation of Young People Review

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether the independent review of the excessive commercialisation and premature sexualisation of children will include an assessment of the role of  (a) schools,  (b) the retail sector and  (c) the advertising sector; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah Teather: I have asked Reg Bailey, chief executive of the Mothers' Union, to conduct the independent review of the commercialisation and sexualisation of childhood and to report with recommendations in May 2011. As laid out in the ministerial statement to Parliament on 6 December 2010,  Official Report, column 7WS, and in the terms of reference for the review, Mr Bailey will consider the views of the business community, and in particular the advertising and marketing industry, as well as the views of consumers, especially parents. It will be open to Mr Bailey to consider the role of schools. As part of this considerative process, Mr Bailey has invited industry and other organisations, as well as parents, to submit evidence. He is also meeting representatives from a wide range of businesses and others with an interest, including, for example, the Advertising Standards Authority and the Advertising Association, as well as leading retailers and their representative bodies.

Sixth Form Colleges: VAT

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of sixth form colleges in England are registered for value added tax.

David Gauke: I have been asked to reply.
	The Secretary of State for Education has asked me to reply as Minister responsible for this area. I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him of 14 March 2011,  Official  Report, column 96W.

Sure Start: Bolton

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the average administration costs were of Sure Start children's centres in Bolton in the latest period for which figures are available.

Sarah Teather: The Department for Education does not collect data on average administrative costs for children's centres. We have consulted on changes to data which local authorities are required to report on their expenditure on children's services. From 2011-12, local authority expenditure on Sure Start Children's Centres will be published, including how much funding is held back for local authority central administration costs, and how much is spent on front line services.

Sure Start: Bolton

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the level of entitlement funding was in  (a) 2010-11 and  (b) 2011-12 for (i) Bolton South East constituency, (ii) Bolton and (iii) Greater Manchester.

Sarah Teather: The spending review confirmed that all three and four-year-olds will continue to receive 15 hours of free early education per week, delivered more flexibly. Funding for free early education places for 3 and 4-year-olds is provided through the dedicated schools grant (DSG), which supports the majority of education provision for children aged 3-16. Local authorities, in consultation with their Schools Forum, decide how best to distribute 3-16 funding across their locality. As such, funding allocations for local authorities are not available.
	Local authorities report on financial expenditure through returns required under section 251 of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009. From April 2010, about half of LAs were pathfinders for the Early Years Single Funding Formula (EYSFF), a new method for LAs to fund providers of free early education. From April 2011, every LA will be operating the EYSFF. Bolton LA were an EYSFF pathfinder. Where a local authority was a pathfinder for the early years single funding formula in 2010-11, the detail of their formula can be found in their section 251 statement.
	Because of the way section 251 operated previously, it is not possible to obtain complete data on free early education spend for non-pathfinders. From section 251 data, Bolton budgeted to spend £8.2 million in 2010-11, and this was allocated through a formula to early years settings. Budget statements for 2011-12 have not yet been completed.

Targeted Mental Health in Schools Grant: Finance

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding his Department allocated to the Targeted Mental Health in Schools Grant in  (a) 2008-09,  (b) 2009-10 and  (c) 2010-11.

Sarah Teather: Between 2008 and 2011, the Department for Education allocated a total of £60 million to the Targeted Mental Health in Schools (TaMHS) programme.
	This was broken down to: £10 million in 2008-09, £20 million in 2009-10 and £30 million in 2010-11.
	The aim of the TaMHS programme was to develop innovative models of early intervention and targeted support in schools for children and young people aged 5-13, and their families, who were at risk of and/or experiencing mental health problems by building on existing universal work in schools to promote pupils' social and emotional development.
	From April 2011, funding for Targeted Mental Health in Schools (TaMHS) services for children and young people will be available through the new Early Intervention Grant. This non-ring-fenced grant, worth £2.2 billion in 2011-12, will give local areas the freedom and flexibility to invest in early intervention, responding effectively to local need and priority.

Teachers: Training

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effects of the removal of the further education initial teacher training bursary for  (a) history and  (b) information and communication technologies PGCE students;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effects of the removal of the bursary for information and communication technologies PGCE students on the number of information and communication technologies teachers in secondary schools in each of the next five years;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the effects of the removal of the further education initial teacher training bursary for history graduates on the number of history teachers in secondary schools in each of the next five years;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the effects of the removal of the further education initial teacher training bursary for history PGCE students on the take-up of history within the English Baccalaureate in each of the next five years;
	(5)  what assessment he has made of the effects of the removal of the further education initial teacher training bursary for design and technology PGCE students on the number of design and technology teachers in secondary schools in each of the next five years;
	(6)  what assessment he has made of the effects of the removal of the further education initial teacher training bursary for design and technology PGCE students on the number of students taking up vocational subjects in secondary schools;
	(7)  what consultations he undertook with  (a) trade unions,  (b) head teachers' associations,  (c) local authorities and  (d) schools on his decision to remove further education initial teacher training bursaries for (i) information and communication technologies, (ii) history and (iii) design and technology PGCE students in the 2011-12 academic year.

Nick Gibb: The training bursary arrangements for students taking further education PGCEs are a matter for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Teenage Pregnancy Independent Advisory Group

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what impact assessment he has undertaken of the abolition of the Independent Advisory Group on Teenage Pregnancy;
	(2)  what his most recent assessment is of the effectiveness of the Independent Advisory Group on Teenage Pregnancy in carrying out its functions.

Sarah Teather: The Teenage Pregnancy Independent Advisory Group (TPIAG) was set up in 2000, to monitor the previous Administration's 10 year Teenage Pregnancy Strategy. It is an advisory non-departmental public body (NDPB) whose work was scheduled to come to an end in 2010 and the group has had no responsibility for implementation of the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy. There was, therefore, no need to undertake an impact assessment on its abolition. TPIAG published its final report on 14 December 2010.
	While TPIAG was not responsible for the delivery of the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy, it did produce regular reports, with recommendations on how the Strategy could be improved. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the Group for their reports and recommendations on both preventing teenage pregnancies and improving support for teenage parents and their children. The Group's expert input has made an important contribution to the understanding of the measures needed to reduce teenage pregnancies, which have fallen by 18.1% between 1998 and 2009 (the latest year for which data are available), to the point where in 2009, the under-18 conception rate was at its lowest level for nearly 30 years.
	In my response of 25 October 2010,  Official Report, column 95W, to the hon. Member for Stafford (Jeremy Lefroy), I emphasised the importance of local areas continuing to prioritise reducing teenage pregnancy rates. This will contribute to their efforts to reduce child poverty and health inequalities.

Teenage Pregnancy Scheme: Finance

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding his Department allocated to the Teenage Pregnancy scheme in  (a) 2008-09,  (b) 2009-10 and  (c) 2010-11.

Sarah Teather: The following table sets out the budget allocated to support work on reducing teenage pregnancy rates and improving outcomes for teenage parents and their children, in this and the preceding two years. It separates out the amounts spent on: local implementation (paid through a grant to each top-tier local authority in England); and the amount retained by the Teenage Pregnancy Unit (TPU) to pay for the elements of the strategy that were best managed centrally, such as funding for a national media, campaign and for the national PSHE continuing professional development (CPD) programme for teachers.
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Financial year  Local implementation  Central costs  Total 
			 2008-09 27.5 5.5 33 
			 2009-10 27.5 5.5 33 
			 2010-11 27.5 5.5 33

Teenage Pregnancy: Personal Income

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment his Department has made of potential links between income inequality and rates of  (a) teenage births and  (b) teenage pregnancy.

Sarah Teather: Analysis of the Longitudinal Study of Young People in England (LSYPE) shows that young women from less well off backgrounds are more likely to have been pregnant and, in particular, more likely to have become mothers, by the age of 18 than those from more affluent backgrounds. The survey found that while 13% of females interviewed were eligible for free school meals in Year 11, this group made up 22% of those who became pregnant by age 18, and 32% of those whose first pregnancy resulted in them having the baby. Females with parents from higher or lower, professional occupational backgrounds made up 45% of the survey population at age 18, but only 28% of those who became pregnant by the age of 18 and an even smaller proportion, 12%, of those who went on to have a baby.
	Rates of both teenage pregnancy and teenage motherhood are higher in areas with higher levels of deprivation. Teenage pregnancy rates in the 10% most deprived wards are four times higher than in the 10% least deprived. This association is even stronger when it comes to teenage motherhood, where the rate of births to under-18s in the most deprived 10% of wards is nine times higher than in the 10% least deprived. High rates of teenage pregnancy are mainly concentrated in deprived urban areas. However, teenage pregnancy 'hotspots' (wards with rates over 60 under-18 conceptions per 1,000 females aged 15-17) are found in virtually every local authority in England, including in some rural areas.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to reply to question 24438, on funding for family rights helplines, tabled on 13 November for ordinary written answer.

Sarah Teather: A response has been issued to the hon. Member today.

Young People: Alcoholic Drinks

Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will take steps to raise awareness of the problems of under-age excess drinking through the Youth Service.

Sarah Teather: The national Drug Strategy published in December 2010, set out Government's ambition for preventing drug and alcohol misuse among young people. In it, we committed to ensure that school staff have the information, advice and the power to provide accurate information on drugs and alcohol through drug education and targeted information via the FRANK service; to tackle problem behaviour in schools, with wider powers of search and confiscation; and to work with local voluntary organisations, the police and others to prevent drug or alcohol misuse. We will make sure that other professionals working with young people also have access to the information they need to raise awareness of these issues.
	Furthermore, through the Early Intervention Grant we are giving local authorities in England more freedoms and flexibilities to maintain and focus on essential frontline services and to invest in early intervention and prevention to protect the most vulnerable, including those young people at risk of substance misuse.

Young People: Unemployment

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of young people aged  (a) 16,  (b) 17 and  (c) 18 were not in full-time education or training in each local education authority area in the East of England in the latest period for which figures are available.

Nick Gibb: Estimates of participation in education and work-based learning (WBL) for young people in each local authority (LA) in England are published by the Department in a Statistical First Release (SFR) each June. The full set of local estimates can be found on the Department's website at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000938/index.shtml
	The following table shows, for local authorities in the east of England: estimates for the number of young people participating in full-time education and WBL; population estimates; and estimates for the number and proportion of young people not in full-time education or WBL. Estimates relate to a snapshot at the end of 2008, and are shown for young people of academic age 16 and 17. Figures for 18-year-olds are not available.
	
		
			  Participation in full-time education (FT Ed) or work-based learning (WBL) at academic age 16 and 17 for local authorities in the east of England 
			   Academic age 16  Academic age 17 
			   In FT Ed/WBL  Population  Not in FT Ed/WBL  Proportion not in FT Ed/WBL  In FT Ed/WBL  Population  Not in FT Ed/WBL  Proportion not in FT Ed/WBL 
			   Number  Number  Number  Percentage  Number  Number  Number  Percentage 
			 Bedford(1) (1)2,100 (1)2,100 (1)0 (1)0 1,800 2,100 300 13 
			 Cambridgeshire 6,500 7,400 900 12 5,900 7,700 1,700 23 
			 Central Bedfordshire 2,800 3,300 500 16 2,400 3,400 1,000 30 
			 Essex 14,900 17,900 3,000 17 12,900 18,300 5,400 30 
			 Hertfordshire 13,400 14,500 1,000 7 11,900 14,500 2,600 18 
			 Luton 2,300 2,500 200 7 2,000 2,700 600 23 
			 Norfolk 8,500 9,900 1,400 14 7,100 10,100 3,000 30 
			 Peterborough 1,800 2,100 300 12 1,600 2,300 700 31 
			 Southend-on-Sea 1,800 2,100 200 12 1,500 2,100 500 26 
			 Suffolk 7,700 9,000 1,400 15 6,700 9,300 2,500 27 
			 Thurrock 1,600 1,900 300 17 1,300 2,100 800 38 
			 East of England 63,500 72,700 9,200 13 55,200 74,500 19,300 26 
			 England 577,700 659,400 81,700 12 511,600 677,300 165,700 24 
			 (1) Note that in some cases estimates of participation at LA level can equal or exceed 100%. This is because for participants in independent schools, where residence data on pupils are not collected, an assumption is made that the young people live in the LA that the school is located. This will tend to inflate participation estimates for LAs with both an untypically high number of independent schools and where cross border flows between LAs are common (such as Inner London). Bedford is one of the LAs whose estimates at age 16 are suppressed in the published participation figures (which include part-time education) because the estimate of overall participation exceeds 100%.  Note: Numbers are rounded to the nearest 100.

HEALTH

Autism

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress his Department has made in producing a protocol for the recording and sharing of information on adults with autism; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: The published document, "Implementing 'Fulfilling and rewarding Lives': Consultation for statutory guidance for local authorities and NHS organisations to support the implementation of the autism strategy", December 2010, set out clear local authority responsibilities for ensuring that correct processes are put in place for conducting assessments of needs and for the prompt sharing of information of adults with autism.
	The Department will lead the development of an agreed protocol for what information should be recorded and how it should be shared with other services. This protocol will also look at how information about numbers of adults with autism locally should be compiled and fed into centrally collated data about rates of autism.
	A copy of the guidance has already been placed in the Library.

Autism

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons people with autism are not included in the draft social care outcomes framework; whether he plans to address social care outcomes for people with autism; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: The Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework is intended to provide an overarching picture of social care at the national level, reflecting the common outcomes which matter to people receiving services and their carers. Outcome measures are not intended to focus on any one disability exclusively, but reflect more holistic outcomes as far as possible to give a broader overview, with more detailed information available for further analysis. Outcomes for people with autism should be included in the framework to the extent that these high-level measures are relevant for autism.
	The 2011-12 Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework is based upon existing national data collections, since changes to data requirements cannot be made in the short-term. Data on autism are not currently collected from councils at the national level, hence this information is not disaggregable from current proposals. However, we are exploring means of addressing the availability of information on specific disabilities, including autism, through data development with the local government sector.
	The final 2011-12 Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework will be published by the Government shortly.

Cataracts: Surgery

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to take steps to increase the number of patients who are able to choose implantable lens technology on the NHS for the treatment of cataracts under his proposals for the reform of NHS commissioning.

Simon Burns: Currently primary care trusts are able to commission eye care services as they judge them to be needed in their areas.
	The Health and Social Care Bill currently before the House sets out our proposals to devolve power and responsibility for commissioning services to local consortia of general practitioner (GP) practices, supported by the creation of the NHS Commissioning Board.
	Subject to parliamentary approval, GP consortia will be responsible for commissioning the vast majority of national health service services including those for patients with cataracts. GP consortia will be responsible for managing their own commissioning budgets, and using these resources for commissioning services to achieve the best and most cost-efficient outcomes for patients. The NHS Commissioning Board will hold them to account for the quality of their commissioning.

Contraception: Expenditure

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department and the NHS spent on contraceptive  (a) services and  (b) provision through primary care in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: Information on national health service spending on contraceptive services through primary care is not collected by the Department.
	The NHS Information Centre collects some information on spending on contraception provision in primary care. The latest 12-month period available covers October 2009 to September 2010. Contraceptives are listed in the British National Formulary under section 7.3 and Prescription Services classify contraceptive appliances (such as intra-uterine contraceptive devices) under 21.4. The following figure covers all products in these sections except for ovulation thermometers.
	Expenditure (net ingredient cost) on prescriptions for contraception, dispensed in the community in England, year ending 30 September 2010, was £91,992,499.
	Contraceptives can also be supplied without a prescription either through contraceptive and sexual health clinics, or by pharmacists under a Patient Group Direction. Condoms are not provided on prescription but can be supplied by the NHS via other routes. Expenditure on these items is not included in the figure above.
	 Notes:
	1.  Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) Data
	Prescription information is taken from the PCA system, supplied by the Prescription Services Division of the NHS Business Services Authority, and is based on a full analysis of all prescriptions dispensed in the community, i.e. by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors, and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered in England. Also included are prescriptions written in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man but dispensed in England. The data do not cover drugs dispensed in hospitals, including mental health trusts, or private prescriptions.
	2. Prescribers are general practitioners, hospital doctors, dentists and non-medical prescribers such as nurses and pharmacists.
	3.  Net Ingredient Cost (NIC)
	NIC is the basic cost of a drug. It does not take account of discounts, dispensing costs, fees or prescription charges income.

Cord Blood

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will visit the Anthony Nolan cord blood bank in Nottingham South constituency to discuss an increase in the UK stock of umbilical cord blood.

Anne Milton: The Secretary of State for Health, the right hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley), has not yet received an invitation to visit the Anthony Nolan Cord Bank in Nottingham. As the Minister, with responsibility for NHS stem cell transplantation services, both cord blood and bone marrow, I would be happy to visit this facility in the future when my diary permits.
	The Government remain committed to this work and I have personally met with members of the UK Stem Cell Strategic Forum, including the Anthony Nolan, to drive forward work to make current services more effective and efficient. As further proof of this commitment, I announced an additional £4 million towards improving the provision of these life saving therapies in the national health service.

Dental Services: East of England

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of practising dentists in each county in the East of England are taking on new NHS patients.

Simon Burns: The information requested is not centrally held. The hon. Member may wish to approach the East of England strategic health authority for local information.

Dental Services: Manpower

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists are operating under  (a) general dental services contracts and  (b) personal dental services agreements in (i) Suffolk, (ii) Bedfordshire, (iii) Cambridgeshire, (iv) Essex, (v) Hertfordshire, (vi) Norfolk and (vii) England.

Simon Burns: The numbers of dentists with national health service activity, by contract type, during the year ending 31 March 2010 are available in Table G2 of Annex 3 of the "NHS Dental Statistics for England: 2009-10" report.
	Information is provided for England and by strategic health authority and primary care trust. This information is based on the dental contractual arrangements, introduced on 1 April 2006. This report, published on 18 August 2010, has already been placed in the Library and is also available on the NHS Information Centre website at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dentalstats0910
	Following a consultation exercise in 2008, this measure is based on a revised methodology and therefore supersedes any previously published workforce figures relating to the new dental contractual arrangements. This revised methodology counts the number of dental performers with NHS activity recorded via FP17 claim forms in each year ending 31 March. This revised methodology applies to data published from 2008 onwards and includes 2007 revised data. It is not comparable to the information collected under the old contractual arrangements.
	These published figures relate to a headcount and do not differentiate between full-time and part-time dentists, nor do they account for the fact that some dentists may do more NHS work than others.

Departmental Rail Travel

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of civil servants in his Department are entitled to travel first class by rail within the UK.

Simon Burns: The Department's current travel and expenses policy allows staff to travel first class by rail only if there is a business need for them to do so. Staff at senior executive officer (SEO) level and above may travel first class without separate approval.
	Latest data submitted by the Department to the Office of National Statistics as at 31 December 2010 shows that there were 2,656 civil servants in the Department. 1,604 of these were employed at SEO level or above; that is, 60% of the Department's workforce.
	All staff have a responsibility to consider at the outset whether they have a definite need related to their work to travel first class by rail. Where air travel is cheaper than rail travel, officials are encouraged to obtain economy class air tickets from the Department's travel contractor.
	The Department is implementing a new travel and expenses policy guidance for staff in April 2011 which reflect latest Treasury principles and the Government's efficiency measures, announced in May 2010, to reduce first class travel.

Departmental Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what regulations his Department introduced between 9 and 28 February 2011;
	(2)  what regulations his Department revoked between 9 and 28 February 2011.

Simon Burns: The information requested is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Statutory instruments introduced before Parliament for the period 9 February 2011 to 28 February 2011 
			  SI title  Made  Laid  Coming into force  SI number 
			 The North West London Hospitals National Health Service Trust (Transfer of Trust Property) Order 2011 5 February 2011 9 February 2011 1 April 2011 2011/238 
			  
			 The Buckinghamshire Primary Care Trust (Transfer of Trust Property) Order 2011 7 February 2011 11 February 2011 1 April 2011 2011/253 
			  
			 The Food Additives (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 7 February 2011 11 February 2011 31 March 2011 2011/258 
			  
			 The National Health Service (Quality Accounts) Amendment Regulations 2011 8 February 2011 11 February 2011 1 April 2011 2011/269 
			  
			 The Food Labelling (Declaration of Allergens) (England) Regulations 2011 11 February 2011 17 February 2011 17 March 2011 2011/402 
			  
			 The Healthy Start Scheme and Welfare Food (Amendment) Regulations 2011 14 February 2011 17 February 2011 6 April 2011 2011/426 
			  
			 The National Health Service (Functions of Strategic Health Authorities and Primary Care Trusts and Administration Arrangements) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 23 February 2011 28 February 2011 1 April 2011 2011/503 
		
	
	
		
			  Statutory instruments revoked between 9 February 2010 and 28 February 2011 
			  SI revoked  By SI  Made  Laid  Coming into force  SI number 
			 The Food Labelling (Declaration of Allergens) (England) Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2801) The Food Labelling (Declaration of Allergens) (England) Regulations 2011 11 February 2011 17 February 2011 17 March 2011 2011/402

General Practitioners

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) GP surgeries and  (b) single-handed GP surgeries there were in (i) Suffolk, (ii) Bedfordshire, (iii) Cambridgeshire, (iv) Essex, (v) Hertfordshire, (vi) Norfolk and (vii) England in each year since 1997.

Simon Burns: The information requested is not available in the format requested. However, information is available by strategic health authority (SHA)/primary care trust (PCT) area.
	Table 1 includes information relating to the number of general practitioner (GP) practices in the former SHAs and PCTs in the East of England area covering the period from September 2001 to September 2005, and the number of GP practices for the reconfigured SHA and PCT areas for 2006 to 2009.
	Table 2 is the number of single-handed practices in the same area over the same period. For data collection purposes, single-handed GP practices are defined as those who do not employ a salaried GP but may be assisted by a GP registrar or GP retainer.
	Table 3 provides information on the number of single-handed providers from 1997 to 2005 but where a single-handed provider is defined as one which may also include a salaried GP, GP registrar or GP trainee. Therefore; this information is not comparable to the information in table 2.
	Copies of these tables have been placed in the Library.
	Information on the number of single-handed providers in England from 1999 to 2009 is available in the workforce census bulletin "General and Personal Medical Services 1999 to 2009 (second edition)" published by the NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care. A copy of the bulletin can be found at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/webfiles/publications/010_Workforce/nhsstaff9909/GP/General%20Practice%20%20 Bulletin%20Tables%201999%20-%202009.pdf

General Practitioners

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the merits and demerits of requiring patients to make appointments with GPs through call centres; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: None. General practitioners (GPs) practices are responsible, as independent contractors to the national health service, for ensuring their patients can make appointments to obtain the care they need from general practice. In making such decisions, GPs will want to secure both the best and most effective arrangements for their patients and for the practice. There are no requirements for practices to move to call centres for appointment-based bookings.

General Practitioners: Working Hours

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average distance travelled for an out-of-hours GP appointment was in  (a) Suffolk,  (b) Bedfordshire,  (c) Cambridgeshire,  (d) Essex,  (e) Hertfordshire and  (f) Norfolk in each of the last 10 years; and what the average waiting time for an out-of-hours GP appointment was in (i) Suffolk, (ii) Bedfordshire, (iii) Cambridgeshire, (iv) Essex, (v) Hertfordshire and (vi) Norfolk in each of the last 10 years.

Simon Burns: The information requested is not centrally held. The hon. Member may wish to approach the relevant primary care trusts within the east of England region for local information.

Health Services

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the expenditure by  (a) Sefton Primary Care Trust and  (b) other primary care trusts of the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies grant in the latest period for which figures are available.

Paul Burstow: Sefton primary care trust (PCT) received a total of £1.081 million in funding for Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) in 2010-11. This was comprised of £608,000 in their baseline as their weighted capitation share of £103 million shared between all PCTs for the IAPT programme, and a direct allocation of a further £473,000 from the £70 million growth funding allocated to individual PCTs by their strategic health authorities (SHAs) as part of this programme in 2010-11.
	Sefton started its IAPT service in October 2010. In its first quarter, between 1 October and 31 December 2010, this service saw 1,228 patients entering treatment, of which 679 completed it. Another 117 patients moved to recovery with many others showing significant improvement in their symptoms and still being in treatment at the end of this period. Seven of the people treated in this three months came off sick pay or benefits.
	Total funding provided nationally for the IAPT programme in 2010-11 was £173 million. This comprised £103 million shared between all PCTs' baselines on a weighted capitation basis. The £70 million growth money for 2010-11 was shared between SHAs on a weighted capitation basis and allocated by them to PCTs in their region, in the light of local circumstances and decisions to start new services. Some PCTs have chosen to add funding to their allocations in order to enhance their local services and others have struggled to find the full amount in their baselines but the detail of this is not held centrally.
	Across the country in the quarter between October and December 2010 91,527 people entered IAPT treatment, 64,230 completed it, 22,369 moved to recovery with many more showing significant improvement in their symptoms and remaining in treatment across the end of this period. A total of 4,238 people treated came off sick pay or benefits.

Health Services: East of England

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent by  (a) West Suffolk Hospital NHS Trust and  (b) Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust on salaries and wages for (i) general and senior managers, (ii) nurses and midwives, and (iii) administrative and clerical staff in each year since 2009-10.

Simon Burns: Expenditure on managers and senior managers, nursing and midwifery and administrative and clerical staff costs by West Suffolk Hospital NHS Trust and Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust in 2009-10 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  £000 
			   Managers and senior managers  Nursing and midwifery  Administrative and clerical 
			 Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust 4,764 40,412 16,464 
			 West Suffolk Hospital NHS Trust 4,382 34,929 10,809 
			  Notes: 1. 2009-10 is the most recent financial year for which figures are available. 2. The data are taken from the Financial Returns. The Financial Returns are a means for the national health service to provide planning and costing information to the Department, and these essentially provide a more detailed breakdown of individual expenditure lines reported in the audited summarisation schedules. The Financial Returns data are not itself audited, but are instead validated by reference to the audited summarisation schedules from which the NHS Summarised Accounts are prepared. There are a number of factors which may distort the figures and they may contain errors and omissions at an individual level (mainly as a result of classification errors) which are not material at the national level.  Source: NHS Financial Returns, Department of Health

Health Services: East of England

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much (a) Suffolk Primary Care Trust and  (b) the East of England Strategic Health Authority spent on (i) management and (ii) other consultants in each of the last five years.

Simon Burns: Expenditure on consultancy services by Suffolk Primary Care Trust and East of England Strategic Health Authority for the financial years 2007-08 to 2009-10 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  £000 
			   2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 Suffolk Primary Care Trust 387 3,062 878 
			 East of England Strategic Health Authority 0 3,446 6,370 
			  Note: 2007-08 was the first year that expenditure on consultancy services was separately identified in the audited summarisation schedules. It is not possible to disaggregate the amounts spent on management and other consultants from these figures.  Source: Audited Summarisation Schedules 2007-08 to 2009-10, Department of Health

Health Services: Reciprocal Arrangements

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many residents of each  (a) EU member state and  (b) non-EU country were treated by the NHS in each of the last five years; and what the cost to the public purse was of such treatment in each such year.

Anne Milton: Under European Union Regulations 883/2004 and 987/2009, the United Kingdom is able to claim full reimbursement for the cost of treatment provided in the UK to residents of another European Economic Area member state or Switzerland. Separately, the UK has bilateral health care agreements with a small number of non-EU countries, which entitle nationals or residents of those countries to free national health service hospital treatment when the need for it arises during their visit to the UK. Residents of other countries are not usually entitled to free NHS treatment and will be charged.
	The following table shows the total audited losses, bad debt and claims abandoned for overseas visitors for years 2005-06 to 2009-10, for England. As well as written off debt for foreign nationals, including EEA and Swiss nationals, who are not ordinarily resident in the UK or exempt from charges, these data include written off debt for UK nationals who are not ordinarily resident here. Further, the data do not include monies owed that hospitals are still in the process of recovering.
	
		
			  Bad debts and claims abandoned in respect of overseas patients 
			   £ 
			 2005-06 3,883,017 
			 2006-07 5,046,763 
			 2007-08 6,468,751 
			 2008-09 5,204,856 
			 2009-10 6,967,780

Insulin

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has plans to bring forward proposals to increase access to insulin pumps for people with Type 1 diabetes.

Paul Burstow: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines along with international evidence are clear on usage and benefits of these devices.
	Dr Rowan Hillson, the National Clinical Director for Diabetes is currently chairing a working group considering the steps that need to be taken to increase uptake of insulin pumps. "The NHS Operating Framework for 2011/12" also highlights the need to do more to make these devices available.
	In addition, the NHS Technology Adoption Centre has published guidance for the national health service to help drive the uptake of these devices in line with the guidelines provided by NICE.

Mental Illness: Ex-servicemen

Hazel Blears: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much funding his Department provided to Timebank for its Shoulder to Shoulder programme in  (a) 2007,  (b) 2008,  (c) 2009 and  (d) 2010;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effect on the NHS budget of the Timebank Shoulder to Shoulder programme.

Simon Burns: The Shoulder to Shoulder project is a partnership between Timebank and Combat Stress, funded by the Department with the aim of providing mentors to young service leavers to aid their transition into civilian life. The project began just over a month ago, and any evaluation would be premature.
	The funding available is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2010-11 48,829 
			 2011-12 58,147 
			 2012-13 57,927

NHS: Information and Communications Technology

Richard Bacon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many delay event notices in the National Programme for IT in the Health Service have been issued by  (a) Connecting for Health  (b) other NHS bodies and  (c) BT in relation to the Cerner deployment at North Bristol NHS Trust; and what the value is in each case.

Simon Burns: Under National Programme for Information Technology Local Service Provider (LSP) contracts, LSPs, but not the Department, nor national health service organisations, are obliged to issue a delay event notice (DEN) when they anticipate being unlikely to achieve a contractual milestone on time. The duty to issue a DEN is the LSP's, whether or not the LSP is responsible for the event concerned.
	Only one DEN has been issued in relation to the Cerner deployment at the North Bristol NHS Trusts. It was issued by BT on 16 September 2010, citing two delay events requested by the trust. BT have not to date associated any cost with the DEN.

NHS: Negligence

Paul Uppal: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take under his NHS reforms to ensure redress for patients who suffer injury as a result of negligent medical treatment in an NHS hospital; and if he will take steps to ensure that such rights of redress are no less than those that would apply to a patient suffering injury in a privately-run hospital.

Simon Burns: The standard national health service contracts already place a requirement on providers of NHS care to have appropriate indemnity arrangements in place.
	Patients still continue the right to make a claim where they have been negligently harmed, regardless of the who the provider of care was.

NHS: Per Capita Costs

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total public expenditure per head of population was on  (a) capital and  (b) running costs of the NHS in (i) Suffolk, (ii) Bedfordshire, (iii) Cambridgeshire, (iv) Essex, (v) Hertfordshire, (vi) Norfolk and (vii) each of the English regions in each year since 1997.

Simon Burns: The Department does not collect any information for the national health service by either county or English region.
	Information on running costs is not available centrally.
	Total capital expenditure by strategic health authorities (SHAs), primary care trusts (PCTs) and NHS trusts per head of population, summarised by SHA area, is shown in the following table. The East of England SHA, and its predecessors, covers the six counties referred to in this question.
	
		
			  £ 
			2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			   East of England strategic health authority area
			 Q01 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Strategic Health Authority 46.8 33.5 24.2 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Q02 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Strategic Health Authority 34.8 21.0 22.6 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Q03 Essex Strategic Health Authority 49.9 41.8 57.2 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Q35 North West London Strategic Health Authority n/a n/a n/a 17.63 22.14 24.73 36.53 
			  
			   Other Strategic Health Authority areas
			 Q04 North West London Strategic Health Authority 76.0 60.3 62.4 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Q05 North Central London Strategic Health Authority 54.1 57.2 16.6 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Q06 North East London Strategic Health Authority 66.9 57.1 62.1 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Q07 South East London Strategic Health Authority 51.6 51.0 45.0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Q08 South West London Strategic Health Authority 55.6 41.2 23.4 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne And Wear Strategic Health Authority 60.4 43.8 49.9 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley Strategic Health Authority 34.7 35.3 46.1 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Q11 North and East Yorkshire and North Lincs Strategic Health Authority 40.5 36.9 53.1 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Q12 West Yorkshire Strategic Health Authority 44.5 33.4 36.4 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Q13 Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic Health Authority 46.5 47.2 34.5 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Q14 Greater Manchester Strategic Health Authority 44.6 35.7 45.4 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Q15 Chester and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority 54.5 57.0 56.9 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Q16 Thames Valley Strategic Health Authority 35.3 35.3 26.6 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Q17 Hampshire and Isle of Wight Strategic Health Authority 49.6 55.8 39.6 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Q18 Kent and Medway Strategic Health Authority 31.8 39.1 46.2 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Q19 Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority 45.9 45.0 22.9 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Q20 Avon, Gloucester and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority 30.8 28.4 30.7 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 021 South West Peninsula Strategic Health Authority 54.5 30.8 44.9 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Q22 Dorset and Somerset Strategic Health Authority 35.6 40.9 62.8 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Q23 South Yorkshire Strategic Health Authority 53.1 25.0 14.3 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Q24 Trent Strategic Health Authority 43.2 37.9 19.1 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Q25 Leics, Northants and Rutland Strategic Health Authority 41.8 45.9 44.0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Q26 Shropshire and Staffordshire Strategic Health Authority 45.8 35.8 37.5 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Q27 Birmingham and the Black Country Strategic Health Authority 74.8 56.5 23.6 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Q28 West Midlands South Strategic Health Authority 39.8 35.7 32.2 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Q30 North East Strategic Health Authority n/a n/a n/a 44.52 13.54 37.59 31.72 
			 Q31 North West Strategic Health Authority n/a n/a n/a 52.90 42.61 30.88 61.37 
			 Q32 Yorkshire and the Humber Strategic Health Authority n/a n/a n/a 36.46 29.88 31.36 50.13 
			 Q33 east Midlands Strategic Health Authority n/a n/a n/a 38.23 37.63 41.93 53.53 
			 Q34 West Midlands Strategic Health Authority n/a n/a n/a 33.41 34.76 34.43 47.70 
			 Q35 London Strategic Health Authority n/a n/a n/a 28.99 47.22 54.36 89.97 
			 Q36 South East Coast Strategic Health Authority n/a n/a n/a 35.13 42.05 35.54 41.36 
			 Q37 South Central Strategic Health Authority n/a n/a n/a 57.74 40.30 46.42 109.13 
			 Q38 South West Strategic Health Authority n/a n/a n/a 41.04 37.44 42.10 44.15 
			  Notes: 1. Expenditure data used in the calculation of capital expenditure per capita values is taken from the audited summarisation schedules of NHS bodies, 2003-04 to 2009-10. 2. In accordance with HM Treasury guidance, expenditure was accounted for using UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice the financial years 2003-04 to 2008-09; expenditure for 2009-10 was accounted for using International Financial Reporting Standards. 3. 'n/a' indicates that the organisation did not exist in the financial year.

Organs: Donors

Sheryll Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department is taking steps to reduce regional variations in the number of people on the NHS Organ Donor Register; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: NHS Blood and Transplant works in partnership with the national health service, local authorities, commercial and third sector organisations to support local promotional and awareness-raising activity around the country. Everyone in the United Kingdom can register via national initiatives such as joining the Organ Donor Register when registering with a doctor or applying for a driving licence.
	People of Asian and African-Caribbean descent are three to four times more likely than white people to develop renal failure and need a kidney transplant. Yet there are far fewer donors from these communities. That is why NHS Blood and Transplant, undertakes a number of specific initiatives targeted at these communities working with specific faith organisations, advertising on black and Asian television channels, radio stations and newspapers or through social media, to raise awareness about the benefits of organ donation, and to encourage more people to add their name to the Organ Donor Register.

Organs: Donors

Sheryll Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of 16 to 20 year-olds are on the NHS Organ Donor Register.

Anne Milton: As at 10 March 2011, 22% or 888,100 people aged 16-20 years (inclusive) in the United Kingdom were on the Organ Donor Register.

Patients: Accidents

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the proportion of accidental falls suffered by patients in NHS facilities which are the result of poor vision; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: This information is not held centrally.
	There are a number of initiatives that encourage staff to check for visual problems in hospital patients who are at high risk of falls. These include the National Patient Safety Agency's "Slips trips and falls in hospital" and Patient Safety First's "How to" guide for reducing harm from fails. The documents can be found at:
	www.nrls.npsa.nhs.uk/resources/patient-safety-topics/patient-accidents-falls/?entryid45=59821
	and
	www.patientsafetyfirst.nhs.uk/ashx/Asset.ashx?path=/Intervention-support/FALLSHow-to%20Guide%20v4.pdf
	respectively.
	Research on falls prevention recognises impaired vision as an important contributing factor to falls, usually in combination with other risk factors such as balance problems or muscle weakness rather than in isolation, and that identifying and treating cataract reduces the risk of further falls. United Kingdom research has indicated around 45% of patients admitted with hip fracture have vision impairment, as do around 50% of patients admitted to elderly medicine wards. The research review document can be found at:
	www.cochranejournalclub.com/preventing-falls-in-nursing-care-facilities-and-hospitals/pdf/CD007146_standard.pdf

Patients: Accidents

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what costs have been incurred by the NHS in each region as a result of  (a) treatment for and  (b) payments to patients who have suffered accidental falls in NHS facilities; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: Data on costs of treatment to patients who have suffered accidental falls is not held by either the Department or the NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA).
	In respect of payments to patients, it is not possible to separate falls which involve patients as opposed to visitors. Therefore the information provided is for claims involving falls made against members of the NHSLA schemes.
	Information on claims involving falls made against members of the NHSLA schemes:
	
		
			  Strategic health authority  Total paid (£) 
			 East Midlands 1,179,086 
			 East of England 1,990,870 
			 London 5,088,975 
			 North East 1,608,316 
			 North West 5,399,399 
			 South Central 1,144,180 
			 South East Coast 2,016,164 
			 South West 2,063,236 
			 West Midlands 3,103,023 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 2,668,680 
			 Total 26,261,929 
			  Source:  NHS Litigation Authority March 2011. 
		
	
	We have used data from April 1999 which was when the NHSLA introduced the Liabilities to Third Party scheme.
	These claims are subject to excesses, with member bodies responsible for handling and funding below-excess claims themselves. They can, however, ask the NHSLA to handle these claims for them for a handling fee.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess the merits of extending the range of conditions which qualify parents for prescription charge exemptions.

Simon Burns: The Government announced in the spending review, that to ensure spending in the national health service is focused on priorities, some programmes announced by the previous Government but not yet implemented will not be taken forward. This includes extending free prescriptions to all those with long term conditions. We are continuing to explore options for reforming the current prescription charging arrangements, taking into account the financial context. In particular, we are examining the implications of the introduction of universal credit in relation to those current benefits that entitle the recipient of that benefit to free prescriptions. We are also looking at the implications of state pension age changes. We will make announcements about how these changes will be implemented in due course.

Suffolk Primary Care Trust: Pay

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much Suffolk Primary Care Trust spent on salaries and wages for  (a) general and senior managers,  (b) nurses and midwives, and ( c) administrative and clerical staff in each year since 2009-10.

Simon Burns: Expenditure on managers and senior managers, nursing and midwifery and administrative and clerical staff costs by Suffolk Primary Care Trust in 2009-10 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   2009-10 (£000) 
			 Managers and senior managers 11,646 
			 Nursing and midwifery 25,712 
			 Administrative and clerical 7,411 
			  Notes: 1. 2009-10 is the most recent financial year for which figures are available. 2. The data are taken from the Financial Returns. The Financial Returns are a means for the national health service to provide planning and costing information to the Department, and these essentially provide a more detailed breakdown of individual expenditure lines reported in the audited summarisation schedules. The Financial Returns data are not itself audited, but are instead validated by reference to the audited summarisation schedules from which the NHS Summarised Accounts are prepared. There are a number of factors which may distort the figures and they may contain errors and omissions at an individual level (mainly as a result of classification errors) which are not material at the national level.  Source: NHS Financial Returns, Department of Health

Third Sector

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether  (a) he and  (b) Ministers in his Department are participating in volunteering activities as part of his Department's involvement in the Big Society initiative.

Simon Burns: The Department's Ministers are actively involved with charities on a private basis as detailed in the list of Ministers' interests recently published by the Cabinet Office, and in addition are involved in other local voluntary and community activities in our constituencies.

Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to use the provisions of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 to transfer employees of primary care trusts to local GP consortia.

Simon Burns: Subject to the circumstances in each case, the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations may apply to primary care trust staff transferring to general practitioner commissioning consortia.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Departmental Land

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will take steps to reduce the size of his Department's estate; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Duncan: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer provided by the Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey) on 14 March 2011 , Official Report, column 150W.
	In the meantime, officials from the Department for International Development (DFID) are already in discussion with the Government Property Unit on possible opportunities to reduce our estate.

Departmental Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what regulations his Department revoked between 27 January 2011 and 28 February 2011;
	(2)  what regulations his Department introduced between 9 and 28 February 2011.

Alan Duncan: The Secretary of State for International Development has not introduced any regulations since 9 February 2011 and is not responsible for any regulations that are currently in force.

Developing Countries: Business

Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department spent on programmes where businesses participate in corporate social responsibility initiatives in developing countries in the latest period for which figures are available.

Andrew Mitchell: The Department for international Development's (DFID's) support for corporate social responsibility (CSR) is incorporated into our broader work on responsible business practices. Interventions include activities that promote increased corporate engagement and investment that demonstrably contribute to poverty reduction and support growth in developing countries.
	We do not have centralised information on DFID's spend in this area across our country offices. Central funding from the Department in 2009-10 on projects that supported responsible business comprised:
	
		
			   £ 
			 Business Call to Action 258,361.81 
			 Business Innovation Facility 167,700.00 
			 The Food Retail Challenge Fund 108,074.65 
			 Responsible and Accountable Garments Sector Challenge Fund 13,599.20 
			 Programme Partnership Arrangement with the Ethical Trading Initiative 530,000.00 
			 Accountable Grant with Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International 500,000.00 
			 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises 115,000.00

Developing Countries: Social Protection

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support his Department has provided to World Bank social protection programmes in each of the last three years.

Alan Duncan: In response to the global food, fuel and financial crises in 2009, the Department for International Development (DFID) has been providing support through the World Bank to help developing countries and the poorest in those countries that are vulnerable to shocks. Between 2009-10 and 2010-11 DFID has provided £2 million to the World Bank's Rapid Social Response Multi-Donor Programme which supports strengthening of social protection systems in developing countries. DFID has also provided £200 million over the same period to enable the setting up of a 'Crisis Response Window' (CRW) that is supporting low income countries affected by the crises. CRW funds have supported initiatives such as a labour-intensive works programme in Yemen and a food and basic needs programme for vulnerable households in Nepal.
	In addition to these centrally supported initiatives, DFID country level work on social protection is often implemented in partnership with the World Bank. For example, over the last three years, DFID has provided nearly £2 million through the World Bank in Pakistan to support the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) to deliver better targeted cash transfers to the ultra poor in the country, reaching over 2.5 million families.

Developing Countries: Social Protection

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department expects to have spent on social protection in 2010-11; and what budgetary allocation has been made for 2011-12.

Alan Duncan: The Department for International Development expects to have spent £78.9 million on social protection in 2010-11. Budgetary allocations for 2011-12 are still being agreed to deliver the commitments made following the recent bilateral and multilateral aid reviews.

Developing Countries: Social Protection

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department is taking steps to support the development of social protection systems in developing countries to address the potential effects of  (a) recent and  (b) future increases in food prices.

Alan Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) is committed to helping 6 million people escape from extreme poverty through cash transfers, which help recipients cope with a variety of shocks including food price rises. We are also working to improve cash transfer delivery systems to make them more responsive to food price rises. For example in Ethiopia, people can receive their transfer as food rather than cash if they cannot afford local food prices. In some countries such as Mozambique we are supporting the development of public works programmes that can be scaled up when food prices rise sharply. In response to global crises-including food price spikes-DFID has contributed £2 million to the World Bank's Rapid Social Response Multi-Donor Programme, which provides technical assistance to help strengthen social protection systems. We have also committed £200 million to a World Bank Crisis Response Facility which will also help to pay for social protection systems in low income countries.

Microfinance

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development in which countries his Department funds microfinance projects.

Alan Duncan: The Department for International Development's (DFID's) support for microfinance is incorporated into broader financial sector development programmes, which have a range of interventions including policy and regulatory reform, capacity building, product innovation and research. Programmes are often implemented by intermediaries, such as non-governmental organisations, government agencies or in partnership with other donors.
	We do not hold a central database with disaggregated information on support provided to microfinance projects through DFID-funded financial sector development programmes. Examples of financial sector development programmes with microfinance components include:
	Financial Sector Deepening Trusts in Kenya and Tanzania promoting access to finance for the poor.
	Enhancing Financial Innovation and Access in Nigeria developing a national financial inclusion strategy, innovating products and building the capacity of financial institutions.
	International Finance Corporation's $150 million multi-donor programme implemented in 19 countries in the middle east and north Africa.
	The Consultative Group on Assisting the Poor (CGAP) developing best practice, standards and technical tools to support the sustainable development of microfinance in developing countries worldwide.

Overseas Aid

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had on  (a) the outcome of his Department's recent evaluation of cash transfers and  (b) the potential implications of such findings for his Department's policies on this issue.

Alan Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) is currently finalising a comprehensive Evidence Paper on Cash Transfers that has drawn on expertise inside and outside of DFID. The paper concludes that cash transfers can be a highly effective way to reach the poorest and help them lift themselves out of extreme poverty, The paper will be published in the next two weeks on DFID's Research4Development website. Findings from the paper have already fed into the discussions that Ministers have had as part of the recent Bilateral Aid Review. Coming out of that review, DFID has committed to helping more than six million of the world's poorest to escape extreme poverty-through cash transfers.

West Africa: Cotton

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the effects of EU cotton subsidies on West African cotton farmers; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Duncan: The UK Government have supported significant research into the impact of cotton subsidies on African and West African farmers, including the impact of EU cotton subsidies. These subsidies have a significant negative impact on farmers in West Africa and their removal is a key objective of the UK Government.
	The Department for International Development (DFID) works closely with DEFRA to reform the EU common agricultural policy and eliminate direct support to the EU cotton sector.

Developing Countries: Multinational Companies

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the costs to developing countries of the proposed relaxation of the controlled foreign company rules and taxation of foreign branches proposals.

David Gauke: I have been asked to reply.
	Treasury Ministers hold regular conversations with the Secretary of State for International Development on a wide range of issues regarding developing countries.
	The Government published the consultation document "Corporate Tax Reform: delivering a more competitive system" on 29 November 2010 which includes the proposals for a new CFC regime and for reforms to the taxation of foreign branches. The Government are committed to an open transparent consultation and have encouraged engagement with all interested parties. This has included engaging with non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
	The Government work through a variety of channels to deliver high-quality capacity building in developing country tax administrations to ensure that these countries are in a position to collect the tax they are owed.

CABINET OFFICE

Big Society Bank

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what arrangements he plans to put in place to fund the big society bank; and whether he expects there to be any differences in the operation of the bank in each nation or region.

Nick Hurd: The Government have committed to using 100% of dormant accounts funds available for spending in England to set up the big society bank. In addition, four of the UK's main banks have agreed to support the establishment of the bank with the injection, on a commercial basis, of £200 million of capital over two years, commencing in 2011.
	We expect that the independent big society bank will have the ability to operate across the UK.

Big Society Network

Tessa Jowell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what contracts his Department holds with the big society network.

Nick Hurd: None.

Census

Tessa Munt: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  what options he is considering as an alternative to holding a full UK Census in 2021;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the financial savings which would accrue from holding an alternative to a full UK Census in 2021;
	(3)  what consideration he has given to  (a) accuracy,  (b) data security and  (c) ethics in assessing alternatives to a full UK Census for 2021.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions asking:
	(1) what options are being considered as an alternative to holding a full UK Census in 2021 (46954)
	(2) what estimate has been made of the financial savings which would accrue from holding an alternative to a full UK Census in 2021 (47080)
	(3) what consideration has been given to (a) accuracy, (b) data security and (c) ethics in assessing alternatives to a full UK Census for 2021. (47081)
	The UK Statistics Authority proposed looking at alternatives to the traditional census and this work is being taken forward by the National Statistician through the Beyond 2011 programme. Proposals will be made in 2014.
	The Beyond 2011 programme is currently at the early initiation stages, launching in April 2011, and it will look at the full range of options for providing census-type information. Current international practice is to collect socio-demographic data through a variety of different approaches including using administrative sources and registers, traditional censuses, rolling censuses, voluntary surveys or a combination of these.
	Users will be widely consulted as part of a Beyond 2011 consultation which will take place later in 2011. There are likely to be open web based consultations, road shows and a system of advisory committees and user groups as happened during the review to determine the need for the 2011 Census. These events will provide ample opportunity to contribute to all aspects of the Beyond 2011 debate, including for central and local government, Parliament and the wider public.
	There will be many considerations in coming to a decision in 2014 about our future approach, most notably meeting our legal obligations, accuracy and costs. It is too early to provide answers at this point on these issues but they are central to the work that is being undertaken. Data security, ethics and other risks will also be carefully considered in the assessment of future options, as they are for the traditional census.
	All contributions to this work will be welcome. The Beyond 2011 programme team directly can be emailed directly on Beyond2011@ons.gsi.gov.uk and progress can be checked through the ONS website at:
	www.ons.gov.uk/about-statistics/methodology-and-quality/imps/beyond-2011/index.html

Charities: Finance

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of operational charities receive funding from the public purse.

Nick Hurd: holding answer 14 March 2011
	The Department does not hold data on the proportion of operational charities in receipt of funding from the public purse.
	Data from the National Council for Voluntary Organisations' Civil Society Almanac 2010 estimate that 22% of general charities receive income from statutory sources in the form of grant or contract income.

Charities: Finance

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many  (a) charities and  (b) operational charities with two or more employees receive funding from the public purse.

Nick Hurd: holding answer 14 March 2011
	The Department does not hold data on the number of charities and operational charities with two or more employees in receipt of funding from the public purse. Data from the National Council for Voluntary Organisations' Civil Society Almanac 2010 estimates that 22% of general charities receive income from statutory sources in the form of grants or contracts; however this data is not broken down by number of employees.
	Survey estimates for the wider voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector are available through the National Survey of Third Sector Organisations. These estimates are based on a sample response from a range of sector organisations and as such are not comparable to NCVO figures on general charities only. Data from the 2008 Survey, re-analysed by the Third Sector Research Centre, are as follows:
	
		
			  Number of staff (FTEs)  Proportion of VCSE organisations in receipt of public funds (grant and contract income) (estimated) 
			 No FTE 22 
			 1 39 
			 2 45 
			 3 to 5 59 
			 6 to 10 69 
			 11 to 30 71 
			 31 to 100 74 
			 101 plus 75 
			 No answer n/a 
			 Total 36

Charities: Redundancy Pay

Kate Hoey: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will have discussions with the Charity Commission on the size of redundancy payments permitted to be made by charities.

Nick Hurd: There are no plans to have such discussions with the Charity Commission. Charity trustees are under a duty to act in their charity's best interests, but are free to make decisions relating to their charity if made properly and within the law. This is the cornerstone of charities' independence. The Charity Commission's role is to ensure transparency so that the public, in its various capacities as taxpayer, donor and beneficiary, can hold trustees to account on such issues.
	The Charity Commission can intervene only in cases where there is a serious risk of significant harm to or abuse of a charity, its assets, beneficiaries or reputation, and where it considers intervention is necessary and proportionate. Otherwise the Charity Commission is precluded by statute from intervening in the administration of a charity, including decisions about redundancy payments.

Charity Commission: Political Activities

Kate Hoey: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will have discussions with the Charity Commission on the requirements for political neutrality of that body.

Nick Hurd: There are no plans to have such discussions with the Charity Commission. The Charity Commission has an important and well-known role in promoting public trust and confidence in charities as the independent registrar and regulator of charities in England and Wales. As a non-ministerial department it is independent of Government and its independence from ministerial direction or control is set out in statute, and is an essential feature as it needs to be politically impartial in its decision making. The recent review of public bodies also reached this conclusion.
	The Charity Commission adheres to the Civil Service Code, including the requirement for impartiality-acting solely according to the merits of the case and with political impartiality.

Community Development

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will assess the influence of religious engagement on levels of civic engagement.

Nick Hurd: The Cabinet Office has no plans at the moment to assess the influence of religious engagement on levels of civic engagement.

Efficiency and Reform Group

Tessa Jowell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the highest salary is of a member of staff working in his Department's Efficiency and Reform Group.

Francis Maude: Salaries for senior civil servants were published on the Cabinet Office website as part of the Government's Transparency Agenda:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/structure-charts-cabinet-office

Employment: Third Sector

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the number of people to be employed in the charitable and voluntary sector in  (a) England,  (b) the North East,  (c) Teesside and  (d) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency at the end of (i) March 2011 and (ii) each subsequent financial year of the Comprehensive Spending Review period.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2011:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking for the number of people to be employed in the charitable and voluntary sector in (a) England, (b) the North East, (c) Teesside and (d) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency at the end of (i) March 2011 and (ii) each subsequent financial year of the Comprehensive Spending Review period (47589).
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) does not produce such estimates.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk

Epilepsy: Death

David Amess: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many  (a) males and  (b) females in each (i) age group and (ii) strategic health authority's area died in circumstances attributable to epilepsy in each of the last five years.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2001:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many (a) males and (b) females in each (i) age group and (ii) strategic health authority's area died in circumstances attributable to epilepsy in each of the last five years. (45600)
	The table provides the number of deaths where epilepsy was the underlying cause of death, for (a) males and (b) females in each (i) age group and (ii) strategic health authority in England, from 2005 to 2009 (latest year available).
	The number of deaths registered in England and Wales each year by sex, age and cause are published annually on the National Statistics website at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=15096
	
		
			  Table1: Number of deaths where epilepsy was the underlying cause of death, by sex, age group and strategic health authority, England, 2005 - 09( 1, 2, 3) 
			  Deaths 
			Male  Female 
			  Strategic health authority  Age group  2005  2006  2007  2008  2009  2005  2006  2007  2008  2009 
			  North East 0-09 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 2 4 1 
			  10-19 3 2 2 1 0 0 2 1 2 0 
			  20-29 3 3 4 6 0 1 3 0 2 1 
			  30-39 5 5 2 1 4 2 1 3 0 4 
			  40-49 8 6 10 8 6 1 1 6 1 2 
			  50-59 5 5 4 9 2 4 0 4 1 0 
			  60-69 3 1 3 7 4 1 1 3 5 5 
			  70-79 2 2 4 2 6 5 5 4 4 2 
			  80 and over 5 1 5 2 5 6 8 5 4 8 
			 
			  North West 0-09 0 1 2 2 1 0 4 2 1 2 
			  10-19 4 8 4 5 4 1 5 1 2 1 
			  20-29 8 7 4 6 7 6 5 7 5 4 
			  30-39 19 17 15 8 10 4 7 2 2 3 
			  40-49 22 17 20 20 18 8 9 9 11 9 
			  50-59 17 9 10 13 9 9 10 2 8 6 
			  60-69 10 10 7 7 13 6 7 7 6 7 
			  70-79 8 6 8 12 17 9 5 15 10 4 
			  80 and over 10 6 7 14 7 11 15 10 11 18 
			 
			  Yorkshire and the Humber 0-09 3 2 0 0 2 0 1 0 2 1 
			  10-19 5 0 4 3 2 2 2 3 4 2 
			  20-29 12 5 7 11 4 7 5 3 3 4 
			  30-39 3 9 12 7 10 9 2 3 6 3 
			  40-49 7 12 14 6 6 6 4 4 4 9 
			  50-59 7 8 6 6 9 8 8 11 4 4 
			  60-69 6 11 8 6 10 6 6 5 6 5 
			  70-79 5 3 3 5 5 5 9 7 6 5 
			  80 and 8 9 6 2 3 14 11 9 16 15 
			 
			  East Midlands 0-09 0 0 2 1 1 1 2 2 0 1 
			  10-19 3 2 1 0 8 0 0 2 4 1 
			  20-29 10 5 4 8 1 5 0 2 4 3 
			  30-39 6 6 5 6 6 8 5 3 1 5 
			  40-49 8 8 10 10 11 1 5 6 2 4 
			  50-59 3 8 9 1 5 4 4 0 4 7 
			  60-69 3 3 2 8 9 5 3 4 2 4 
			  70-79 2 5 5 7 4 7 7 6 4 6 
			  80 and over 6 5 5 5 6 9 7 9 6 10 
			 
			  West Midlands 0-09 2 2 0 1 4 1 1 1 1 1 
			  10-19 6 3 2 2 1 2 2 3 4 1 
			  20-29 7 4 6 1 7 6 4 2 7 6 
			  30-39 14 8 15 10 9 6 6 7 5 12 
			  40-49 15 15 12 15 21 7 8 7 6 8 
			  50-59 10 14 7 12 11 7 6 6 3 3 
			  60-69 12 11 6 9 7 1 3 5 3 2 
			  70-79 8 12 4 4 10 8 5 8 6 11 
			  80 and over 11 11 5 11 10 12 11 8 15 10 
			 
			  East of England 0-09 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 4 0 
			  10-19 2 3 1 2 3 1 1 4 2 3 
			  20-29 4 0 6 10 5 4 6 5 3 6 
			  30-39 12 5 8 7 7 6 2 7 5 4 
			  40-49 17 11 5 13 5 3 5 5 5 9 
			  50-59 7 8 12 11 9 4 5 6 4 3 
			  60-69 7 5 6 11 10 6 7 5 4 2 
			  70-79 6 5 7 5 5 2 6 4 6 10 
			  80+ 7 13 7 10 7 15 10 15 16 15 
			 
			  London 0-09 1 2 1 2 2 3 0 1 4 0 
			  10-19 4 3 1 4 1 0 4 1 3 3 
			  20-29 10 8 12 7 8 8 5 5 3 4 
			  30-39 10 14 11 19 7 8 9 5 8 2 
			  40-49 20 20 18 19 10 4 7 6 6 3 
			  50-59 9 13 5 12 11 7 7 4 8 9 
			  60-69 9 8 7 4 6 8 6 3 6 7 
			  70-79 6 3 4 10 9 7 3 5 2 8 
			  80 and over 7 7 8 11 4 10 11 9 8 14 
			 
			  South East Coast 0-09 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 3 
			  10-19 2 2 2 1 1 2 2 0 1 0 
			  20-29 3 3 3 4 5 5 4 0 4 3 
			  30-39 5 7 3 10 5 3 1 7 3 0 
			  40-49 9 10 7 11 6 7 4 7 4 5 
			  50-59 7 7 7 5 12 2 3 9 1 1 
			  60-69 6 5 5 5 7 3 7 4 4 5 
			  70-79 9 5 5 3 5 6 5 5 4 5 
			  80 and over 2 4 5 1 5 10 10 12 10 13 
			 
			  South Central 0-09 1 1 1 1 2 2 0 1 4 0 
			  10-19 0 2 3 2 2 2 0 1 0 1 
			  20-29 6 4 5 2 4 5 0 4 0 1 
			  30-39 5 7 4 3 3 4 4 2 2 4 
			  40-49 13 14 6 9 6 5 4 5 1 5 
			  50-59 5 5 7 9 2 4 2 3 3 5 
			  60-69 2 9 4 4 4 2 2 0 9 2 
			  70-79 4 3 4 4 4 4 3 3 4 4 
			  80 and over 6 2 9 5 3 8 11 8 6 7 
			 
			  South West 0-09 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 3 0 
			  10-19 3 1 0 1 2 3 2 1 2 3 
			  20-29 5 8 2 5 8 5 5 8 9 7 
			  30-39 5 6 6 7 15 6 8 3 2 4 
			  40-49 10 7 6 9 5 2 4 4 0 4 
			  50-59 8 3 6 9 12 2 1 2 4 3 
			  60-69 6 6 4 8 5 4 5 4 3 6 
			  70-79 6 4 8 3 3 5 9 4 3 4 
			  80 and over 5 5 15 5 5 5 10 12 21 17 
			 (1 )Cause of death for epilepsy was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes G40-G41. (2) Based on boundaries as of 2011. (3) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.

Mutual Pathfinder Fund

Chris Evans: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the potential monetary value of bids to the Mutual Pathfinder Fund.

Nick Hurd: The mutuals pathfinder programme has no Government funding attached. The Pathfinder organisations receive support through expert mentors. All the mentors have offered their support for free and are working with staff in the Pathfinder projects to help them develop a range of sustainable, efficient and pioneering employee-led services.
	Government will invest over £10 million to fund a programme of support for some of the most promising and innovative mutuals so that they reach the point of investment readiness. This programme is currently being developed.

Office for Civil Society: Operating Costs

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the operational costs of the Office for Civil Society at the end of  (a) March 2011 and  (b) each subsequent financial year in the comprehensive spending review period.

Nick Hurd: Expenditure by the Office for Civil Society in 2010-11 is reported in the Cabinet Office annual report and accounts and includes information on administrative expenditure.

Office for Civil Society: Secondment

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many civil servants have been engaged in work of the Office for Civil Society  (a) through secondment and  (b) in addition to their usual duties from (i) the Department for Communities and Local Government and (ii) the office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Nick Hurd: Since the creation of the Office for Civil Society (May 2011) there has been one official on secondment from the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Office for Civil Society: TimeBank

Hazel Blears: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much the Office for Civil Society paid to TimeBank in each year since 2007.

Nick Hurd: Since the beginning of the financial year 2007-08 the Office for Civil Society has provided TimeBank with grants of the following value:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2007-08 609,950 
			 2008-09 622,750 
			 2009-10 775,300 
			 2010-11 525,300 
			 Total 2,533,300

Older People: Voluntary Work

Jonathan Evans: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent assessment he has made of the contribution to the economy of older volunteers.

Nick Hurd: The Cabinet Office has not made a recent assessment of the contribution to the economy of older volunteers. However, a research report, "Gold age pensioners-valuing the socio-economic contribution of older people in the UK", was published on the subject in March 2011 by the charity, WRVS. This can be downloaded from:
	www.goldagepensioners.com

Public Sector: Mutual Societies

Tessa Jowell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many organisations have tendered to deliver the programme of support for public sector mutuals.

Nick Hurd: Government will invest over £10 million to fund a programme of support for some of the most promising and innovative mutuals so that they reach the point of investment readiness. This programme is currently being developed. Therefore, no tender process has been undertaken to date.

Third Sector

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many civil servants have been engaged in the work of the big society ministerial group  (a) through either secondment and  (b) in addition to their usual duties; and how many such people are employed by (i) his Department, (ii) the Department for Communities and Local Government and (iii) the office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Nick Hurd: The Cabinet Office estimates that providing secretariat to the IMG on big society and localism requires approximately 0.1 fte at grade 5, 0.2 at Band A, and 0.15 at B2, along with minimal time at administration grades and within Minsters' private offices. In addition, we estimate that preparation of a typical paper for the Group requires approximately three working days at either Band A or B2 level; the Cabinet Office typically presents two papers at each IMG meeting. Secretariat and most papers for the IMG are provided by the Office for Civil Society; while OCS works closely on common issues with the ODPM, it has not so far commissioned papers from this unit for a meeting of the IMG.
	DCLG estimate that the IMG requires less than 0.1 fte at Grade 7, and less than 0.1 fte at HEO. Time to prepare papers is similar to OCS estimates; DCLG typically presents one paper to each meeting of the IMG.
	The IMG on big society and localism meets for the third time on 16 March 2011.

Third Sector: Finance

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what mechanisms he has put in place to evaluate the performance of his Department's Transition Fund for civil society organisations.

Nick Hurd: The Transition Fund is being monitored and evaluated by Big Fund, the delivery partner, against the programme outcome that:
	"civil society organisations, which deliver high quality public services, are more resilient, agile and able to take opportunities presented by a changing funding environment".

Third Sector: Finance

Hazel Blears: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the potential effects of reductions in Government funding to the charities and voluntary sector on the level of employment in that sector.

Nick Hurd: The Government's programme of reform will create significant new opportunities for the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector as we open up public service markets and make these markets more accessible to the sector.
	Data are not available to enable the Department to forecast future levels of employment in the sector. However we continue to work closely with partners in the sector and across Government to assess and support the capacity of the sector.

Third Sector: Manpower

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the number of people he expects to be employed in the charitable and voluntary sector at the end of  (a) March 2011 and  (b) each subsequent financial year of the Comprehensive Spending Review period.

Nick Hurd: The Government's programme of reform will create significant new opportunities for the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector as we open up public service markets and make these markets more accessible to the sector.
	Data are not available to enable the Department to forecast future levels of employment in the sector. However we continue to work closely with partners in the sector and across Government to assess and support the capacity of the sector.

Third Sector: Redundancy Pay

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the proportion of the Transition Fund which will be spent on redundancy payments.

Nick Hurd: The Transition Fund is intended to help organisations make the necessary changes in order to thrive in the long term, for example by restructuring, developing a social enterprise arm and preparing for changes such as personal budgets. There have been over 1,700 applications to the Transition Fund and these are still being assessed by Big Fund, our delivery partner. It is not possible to say what proportion of the Transition Fund will be spent on redundancy payments but, given the focus of the fund, we do not expect it to be a significant amount.

Voluntary Organisations: Business

Esther McVey: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2011,  Official Report, column 370W, on voluntary organisations, what recent assessment his Department has made of the progress made in establishing Business Connectors; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Hurd: Business Connectors is a business-led initiative. Last autumn, Business in the Community (BITC) consulted with senior business leaders on what business sees as its role in supporting the Government's vision of a big society. The clear response was that business can and wants to do more to engage and support local communities, and that the most successful business/community partnerships are based on individuals from business working with local civil society organisations.
	In December, the Prime Minister challenged business to increase the number of these brokers or 'business connectors'. BITC will shortly announce 20 pilot areas.
	More information about Business Connectors can be found through Business in the Community:
	www.bitc.org.uk

Voluntary Organisations: Business

Esther McVey: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2011,  Official Report, column 370W, on voluntary organisations, what recent assessment his Department has made of the progress made on the Every Business Counts initiative; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Hurd: The Prime Minister launched 'Every Business Commits' in a speech on 2 December 2010, calling on businesses to help create a more sustainable and community-centred approach to doing business. Work on this initiative is being led by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), and the responsible Minister is the hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey).
	BIS is working with networks of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to identify ways in which the Government can make it easier for business to respond to Every Business Commits. This includes identifying businesses' priorities for success and determining where barriers, such as regulation, can be removed. BIS is also talking to large businesses about how they can support SMEs through their own activity and supply chains.

Voluntary Organisations: Labour Turnover

Alun Michael: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the likely change in the number of jobs in the voluntary sector in the next three years.

Nick Hurd: The Government's programme of reform will create significant new opportunities for the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector as we open up public service markets and make these markets more accessible to the sector.
	Data is not available to enable the Department to forecast future levels of employment in the sector. However we continue to work closely with partners in the sector and across Government to assess and support the capacity of the sector.

Voluntary Work

Hazel Blears: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment he has made of trends in the level of volunteering in the last 10 years.

Nick Hurd: The information requested is available in the Governments Citizenship Survey. The survey shows the following levels of formal and informal volunteering once a month.
	
		
			  Percentage of people participating in formal and informal volunteering (at least once a month) in England, by year 
			  Percentage 
			   2001  2003  2005  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 Informal volunteering 34 37 37 35 35 29 
			 Formal volunteering 27 28 29 27 26 25

Voluntary Work and Charitable Donations

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether his Department has a policy to encourage its employees to  (a) volunteer and  (b) donate via payroll giving.

Nick Hurd: Cabinet Office encourages all employees to  (a) volunteer and  (b) donate via payroll giving. Cabinet Office staff are eligible for up to five days special paid leave per year for volunteering activity. Staff are encouraged to donate via payroll giving through regular promotion, including as part of the induction of new staff.

Voluntary Work: Young People

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many young people he expects to participate in the National Citizen Service programme following its initial pilot scheme.

Nick Hurd: No decisions have been taken about the roll-out of National Citizen Service beyond the two-year pilot stage. Over 11,000 young people will have the opportunity to take part in pilot schemes in summer 2011, and a further 30,000 in summer 2012. An external evaluation of the pilots will inform decisions about the nature and scale of future roll-out. If the pilots are successful, we hope that over time NCS can be made available to all 16-year-olds who want to take part.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Armed Forces: Children

Jack Lopresti: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to help prevent the recruitment and deployment of child soldiers.

Henry Bellingham: We are committed to ending the recruitment and deployment of child soldiers. We apply diplomatic pressure to offending governments and armed groups, as well as funding projects to help protect and rehabilitate vulnerable children. The UK is also a member of the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC), which helps to lead the international response to the issue of child soldiers. This includes pressing armed groups to work with the UN to verify and release any child soldiers associated with them.

British Overseas Territories: Official Visits

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to make an official visit to British Overseas Territories.

Henry Bellingham: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no immediate plans to visit British Overseas Territories.
	Since my appointment as Minister for the Overseas Territories, I have visited the Turks and Caicos Islands and Anguilla. I am keen to continue to visit Overseas Territories and plan to make further visits later this year, but it is not practice to announce these visits until they are confirmed.

China: Politics and Government

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise with his Chinese counterpart reports of unauthorised access by state officials to personal and business email accounts operated by British news organisations in that country.

Jeremy Browne: We have consistently raised the treatment of foreign media working in China with the Chinese authorities both bilaterally in London and Beijing and in conjunction with EU partners.
	We are aware of reports of unauthorised access of email accounts of representatives of the international media.
	We oppose any form of pressure on or intimidation towards foreign media by Chinese authorities to influence their reporting. We have consistently called on Chinese authorities to observe their obligations on human rights under international law, including on freedom of speech, and will continue to do so.

Council of Europe

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the UK has participated in the Council of Europe's project on Living together in 21st century Europe; and what discussions Ministers have had with  (a) the Council of Europe and  (b) their member state counterparts on the project.

David Lidington: 'Living Together in 21st Century Europe' is a report being prepared for the Council of Europe (CoE) by the CoE Group of Eminent Persons. This group consists of independent experts. Ministers have not discussed the forthcoming report (due for publication in May) within the CoE or with member state counterparts.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Elections

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with his counterpart in the Democratic Republic of Congo steps to ensure that  (a) parliamentary and  (b) presidential elections are held in that country in 2011.

Henry Bellingham: The Independent Election Commission in the Democratic Republic of Congo recently informed donor countries that technical delays in voter registration mean that one or both elections may now have to take place in early 2012. We continue to urge the authorities of the Democratic Republic of Congo to ensure that parliamentary and presidential elections are held in a timely, transparent manner, and that any changes to the electoral calendar are made constitutionally and in consultation with all parties.
	Our ambassador recently met the President of the National Assembly and the Vice-Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo to express our concern over any delays to the electoral process, and will continue to raise the issue at the most senior levels.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Elections

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with the Secretary General of the United Nations an extension to the UN mandate in the Democratic Republic of Congo until after free and fair parliamentary and presidential elections have taken place.

Henry Bellingham: The UN Organisation Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) mandate expires in June 2011 and its renewal is due to be discussed by the UN Security Council shortly. Under UN Security Council Resolution 1925, MONUSCO is mandated to provide logistical and technical support for the elections. The UK is clear that the priority for MONUSCO must be protection of civilians. Any decision related to drawdown of MONUSCO forces must be made by the UN Security Council on the basis of the situation on the ground.

Departmental Expenditure

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what expenditure  (a) his Department and  (b) each public body sponsored by his Department incurred on engaging external audit services in each of the last three years; and to which service providers such payments were made in each year.

Alistair Burt: Expenditure by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on engaging external audit services for the last three financial years was as follows:
	
		
			  £000 
			   Auditor  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 Foreign and Commonwealth Office(1) NAO 250 288 265 
			  
			 FCO Services(2) NAO 75 109 123 
			  
			 BBC World Service KPMG 100 100 100 
			  
			 British Council NAO 128 136 136 
			  Howarth Clark Whitehill LLP 5.9 - - 
			  
			 Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission NAO 4.7 4.6 4.7 
			  
			 Great Britain China Centre NAO - 5 5 
			  Keith, Vaudrey and Co 2.4 - - 
			  
			 Westminster Foundation for Democracy NAO - 14.7 12 
			  Baker Tilly 14.7 - - 
			  
			 Wilton Park(1) NAO 20 23 23 
			 (1) Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Wilton Park; audit fee is a non cash charge and therefore notional (2007-10). (2) FCO Services; notional cost only in 2007-08.

Departmental Leaseback Arrangements

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assets his Department has sold and leased back over the last 12 months; what the sale price was of each asset so sold; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of leasing back each such asset over the period of the lease.

Alistair Burt: Over the last 12 months the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not sold and leased back any assets in the UK.

Departmental Procurement

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many procurement projects with a monetary value greater than  (a) £10 million,  (b) £50 million and  (c) £100 million (i) his Department and (ii) each non-departmental public body and agency for which he is responsible was engaged upon in the latest period for which figures are available.

Alistair Burt: The number of procurement projects within the three monetary value thresholds for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) are:
	 (a) £10 million: 12
	 (b) £50 million: 0
	 (c) £100 million: 0.
	These projects cover the time period 2009-10 and 2010 to date. Their objectives were to improve the FCO's global operations and provide better value for money for the taxpayer. For example, the Echo project will deliver cheaper and better IT services to the FCO and other Government Departments and save up to £90 million, and will reduce flights, travel and carbon emissions through increased use of video conferencing. Other contracts include security guarding, close protection and police mentoring to help ensure the safety of our staff. All projects are subject to strict value for money criteria. There are no procurement projects that fall within the above criteria for Wilton Park and the non-departmental public bodies.

Departmental Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what regulations his Department revoked between 9 and 28 February 2011.

Alistair Burt: Regulations are a specific type of statutory instrument. They are very rarely sponsored by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office did not revoke any secondary legislation between 9 and 28 February 2011.

Egypt: Politics and Government

Kwasi Kwarteng: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the plans of the Government of Egypt for a democratic settlement in that country.

Alistair Burt: We welcome the appointment of the new Egyptian Prime Minister and his Government. The recent Cabinet re-shuffle has introduced many new faces into the Egyptian Government. The constitutional referendum due to take place this Saturday is another significant and important development. We encourage the Egyptian Government to continue to consider wider constitutional reform in due course.
	During my visit to Egypt from 9 to 11 March 2011, 1 met the Prime Minister and other members of the Government, and encouraged them to work out a public timetable for elections to allow for the development of effective political parties. A key first step to this action will be a new law on political parties. We understand that the Supreme Council of the Armed Force will issue just such a law shortly after the referendum. We will continue to urge the Egyptian Government to engage in meaningful dialogue with opposition and activist groups to build trust with them so as to enable the aspirations of the people to be realised.

Human Rights

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which occasions human rights issues have been raised with the Government of  (a) Morocco,  (b) Tunisia,  (c) Algeria,  (d) Libya,  (e) Egypt,  (f) Yemen,  (g) Saudi Arabia and  (h) Bahrain by staff of his Department since June 2010.

Alistair Burt: holding answer  16 March 2011
	As the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), has made clear, the Government are committed to promoting human rights around the world.
	Our high commissions and embassies have a responsibility to monitor and raise human rights in their host countries. They routinely raise our concerns with other governments and where possible, take action on individual cases where persecution or discrimination has occurred and lobby for changes in discriminatory practices and laws. The Government are in close cooperation with our EU and international partners to improve human rights across the world.
	In June 2010, we raised our concerns with the Libyan Government about reports of human rights abuses at migrant detention centres and the temporary closure of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees office in Tripoli. We also raised on numerous occasions during last year a number of individual cases, including that of a British national who was held in incommunicado detention in Libya for five months until August 2010.
	On 21 February 2011, the Permanent Under-Secretary, Simon Fraser, summoned the Libyan ambassador to underline the Government's grave concerns about the recent violence in Libya and Britain's clear condemnation of the unacceptable use of force against protestors in Libya. On 16 March 2011, the Permanent Under-Secretary called the ambassador to the Foreign Office to emphasise the UK's profound concern about the Libyan regime's ongoing attacks on civilians stating that perpetrators of such violence will be held to account. He also expressed concern about the continued harassment and detention of journalists in Libya.
	We have also raised our concerns about human rights in Libya in international fora. In November 2010, we made a statement at Libya's Universal Periodic Review in which we raised a number of concerns, including freedom of expression, arbitrary detention and the incidence of torture. In response to serious human rights violations in Libya in February 2011, the UK drove through a UN Security Council resolution, which was passed with unanimous support and, as well as imposing sanctions, referred Libya to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. We also led on Human Rights Council resolution 15/2 that mandated a Commission of Inquiry to investigate alleged violations of international human rights law in Libya and played a key role in Libya's suspension from the Council on 1 March 2011.
	In Egypt, we have raised human rights issues on a number of occasions, including during the UK-Egypt Strategic Dialogue in January 2011, with the Egyptian Assistant Minister for Human Rights in June and September 2010, during the electoral period in November and December 2010, and throughout the recent revolution.
	Discussions on human rights form part of the Annual Strategic Dialogue between the UK and Algeria as well as a core component of the EU Association Agreement and discussions within the UN.
	The issue of human rights formed a core component of both the EU Association Agreement and Advanced Status negotiations with the previous Tunisian Government. The issue has been an integral part of discussions with the present Government, both here in London and in Tunisia, as they implement a series of reforms in their move towards an open democratic society.
	Discussions on human rights form a core component of the EU Association Agreement with Morocco. Senior Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials have also raised human rights issues regularly with our Moroccan counterparts.
	In Bahrain our ambassador has raised repeatedly with the Government of Bahrain since June 2010 the need to investigate transparently allegations of abuse of detainees; the need to respect freedom of expression; and the dismissal of the Board of the Bahrain Human Rights Society.
	Embassy officials in Riyadh met the President of the Saudi Human Rights Commission in June 2010 and January 2011 to discuss human rights. The UK supported EU officials in November 2010 in raising the case of a Sri Lankan national sentenced to death. Our embassy raises human rights as part of their regular meetings with the Saudi Government.
	Our ambassador in Sana'a and senior visiting officials raised concerns about media restrictions with the Yemeni Government in February this year. In September and December 2010 the UK participated in EU demarches concerning freedom of expression and the death penalty. Human rights form part of the agreed deliverables for the Friends of Yemen group in New York on 27 September 2010. With reports of human rights violations during recent protests we have voiced our concerns directly to senior Yemeni ministers.

Indonesia: Foreign Relations

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the state of relations between the UK and Indonesia; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Browne: Relations between the UK and Indonesia continue to strengthen as Indonesia consolidates its economic and political development. Our cooperation with Indonesia spans a wide range of activities including regional peace and security, trade and investment, the economy, climate change and counter-terrorism. The UK is the third largest investor in Indonesia and we are working hard to enhance our links in this area.
	The Indonesian Government have made significant efforts in recent years to entrench democratic reforms and good governance. Challenges remain but we believe the best way to consolidate progress is through enhanced engagement.

Libya: British Nationals Abroad

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to request any payment from oil companies in respect of the cost of evacuating workers from oil fields in Libya.

Alistair Burt: In an evacuation, the Government will pay for transport out of the affected country, if there are no commercial means available. In line with this policy, on 23 February 2011, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs agreed with the Chancellor of the Exchequer that there should be no charging for any aspect of our charter or evacuation operations from Libya.
	Many oil companies operating in Libya rightly took responsibility for evacuating their own staff where they could. Some oil workers were able to leave Libya across land borders with neighbouring countries. We therefore focused our efforts on British nationals in places where self-evacuation was not an option and it was too dangerous for the oil companies to conduct their own operations.

Libya: Higher Education

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has  (a) had any discussions with and  (b) provided any assistance to British universities in securing (i) contracts and (ii) financial support from Libya in the last 10 years.

Alistair Burt: I refer my hon. Friend to the response given to him by the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the hon. Member for Hertford and Stortford (Mr Prisk) on 15 March 2011,  Official Report, column 306W.

Middle East: Politics and Government

Kwasi Kwarteng: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Iranian Government on measures to increase the level of stability in the Middle East and the Gulf.

Alistair Burt: We have repeatedly urged Iran to work with the international community to build a stable and secure future for the region. Unfortunately Iran's current behaviour, including support for militant groups throughout the region, is at odds with its claim to support stability. We are deeply concerned by the latest evidence that Iran continues to supply the Taliban with weaponry.
	We remain gravely concerned by Iran's nuclear programme, which is a serious source of instability in the Middle East. We remain committed to a diplomatic solution but Iran must show it is serious about addressing international concerns or face increasing international isolation and pressure.

Overseas Aid

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the monetary value of all of his Department's expenditure in each individual country in  (a) 2009-10,  (b) 2010-11 and  (c) 2011-12.

William Hague: Foreign and Commonwealth Office administration costs for 2009-10 and 2010-11 is found in the following table. 2010-11 figures contain actual and forecast expenditure. 2011-12 details cannot be provided as we are still finalising budgets. Programme expenditure by country, some of which is paid directly from the UK but spent by project implementers in the countries where we run projects, is not held centrally and therefore could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  £ 
			  Country  2009-10  2010-11 
			 Afghanistan 24,946,846 26,366,583 
			 Albania 517,817 494,633 
			 Algeria 2,393,256 1,905,795 
			 Angola 1,436,593 1,443,148 
			 Anguilla 331,472 369,124 
			 Argentina 2,458,243 2,413,797 
			 Armenia 522,933 531,856 
			 Ascension Islands 120,249 13,266 
			 Austria 3,506,005 3,216,862 
			 Azerbaijan 1,229,051 987,939 
			 Bahrain 842,812 960,181 
			 Bangladesh 3,262,325 2,628,723 
			 Barbados 1,621,312 1,591,849 
			 Belarus 454,154 491,657 
			 Belgium 10,550,738 9,598,253 
			 Belize 600,864 710,558 
			 Bermuda 146,372 16,101 
			 Bolivia 444,113 473,438 
			 Bosnia-Herzegovina 1,083,558 1,109,992 
			 Botswana 273,428 624,531 
			 Brazil 9,496,236 10,942,314 
			 British Virgin Islands 320,416 234,857 
			 Bulgaria 1,233,231 1,045,772 
			 Cameroon 784,339 662,838 
			 Canada 6,061,612 6,482,119 
			 Cayman Islands 137,636 157,628 
			 Chile 1,651,731 1,767,215 
			 Colombia 2,549,031 2,780,721 
			 Costa Rica 524,288 453,133 
			 Croatia 1,187,988 1,089,711 
			 Cuba 841,452 885,174 
			 Cyprus 2,641,565 2,981,451 
			 Czech Republic 2,024,344 1,430,798 
			 Denmark 3,317,394 3,642,693 
			 Dominican Republic 390,849 450,488 
			 Ecuador 633,638 572,098 
			 Egypt 2,798,691 2,392,620 
			 Eritrea 141,589 151,433 
			 Estonia 876,354 807,525 
			 Ethiopia 1,534,963 1,458,478 
			 Falkland Islands 167,139 110,250 
			 Finland 2,245,999 2,242,864 
			 France 13,496,089 13,850,162 
			 Gambia 731,952 734,031 
			 Georgia 891,166 912,423 
			 Germany 10,550,580 11,363,915 
			 Ghana 3,199,980 3,413,193 
			 Gibraltar 1,057,274 1,019,953 
			 Greece 4,095,346 3,601,321 
			 Guatemala 663,921 757,776 
			 Guyana 739,272 511,010 
			 Hungary 1,794,003 1,517,235 
			 Iceland 375,535 442,132 
			 India 11,851,064 12,247,784 
			 Iran 3,422,475 3,387,878 
			 Iraq 4,047,654 5,656,973 
			 Ireland 2,992,273 2,476,518 
			 Israel 2,683,275 2,628,336 
			 Italy 8,363,489 8,262,603 
			 Jamaica 3,088,609 2,898,477 
			 Jerusalem 2,131,168 2,106,354 
			 Jordan 2,535,857 2,270,166 
			 Kazakhstan 1,090,939 1,113,559 
			 Kenya 3,587,792 3,850,557 
			 Kuwait 2,477,141 2,278,577 
			 Latvia 715,669 612,219 
			 Lebanon 2,240,985 2,342,288 
			 Libya 2,319,326 2,340,171 
			 Lithuania 672,259 658,083 
			 Luxembourg 551,367 366,470 
			 Macedonia 921,002 812,815 
			 Malawi 505,906 606,708 
			 Malta 695,215 691,585 
			 Mexico 3,222,095 3,477,690 
			 Moldova 416,627 386,175 
			 Montenegro 372,328 311,734 
			 Montserrat 350,306 259,100 
			 Morocco 2,562,066 2,062,862 
			 Mozambique 976,010 778,401 
			 Namibia 250,532 262,981 
			 Nepal 1,087,447 842,713 
			 Netherlands 3,418,644 3,251,204 
			 Nigeria 15,605,438 15,933,706 
			 Norway 2,127,002 3,021,447 
			 Oman 1,822,752 1,678,947 
			 Pakistan 5,669,861 5,542,736 
			 Panama 679,376 494,501 
			 Peru 1,501,152 1,368,054 
			 Pitcairn 75,244 62,639 
			 Poland 2,238,891 2,386,551 
			 Portugal 2,421,398 2,831,716 
			 Qatar 1,866,127 1,800,397 
			 Romania 1,859,524 1,723,445 
			 Russian Federation 8,177,285 8,368,002 
			 Rwanda 534,859 867,834 
			 Saudi Arabia 4,576,469 4,040,259 
			 Senegal 571,247 942,864 
			 Serbia 3,530,377 3,026,665 
			 Sierra Leone 1,345,351 1,404,590 
			 Slovakia 731,722 702,085 
			 Slovenia 733,994 736,089 
			 South Africa 7,149,702 9,190,062 
			 Spain 9,614,422 10,497,275 
			 Sri Lanka 1,219,419 1,309,033 
			 St Helena 162,688 60,842 
			 St Lucia 131,965 118,662 
			 Sudan 4,514,136 4,684,739 
			 Sweden 2,826,793 3,697,158 
			 Switzerland 5,617,438 5,839,303 
			 Syria 1,254,283 1,207,300 
			 Tajikistan 490,074 483,435 
			 Tanzania 1,041,733 814,710 
			 The Democratic Republic of Congo 1,893,115 2,082,864 
			 Trinidad 1,211,794 952,999 
			 Tristan da Cunha 288,787 20,172 
			 Tunisia 1,202,934 941,481 
			 Turkey 7,046,664 8,166,476 
			 Turkmenistan 600,539 513,402 
			 Turks and Caicos Islands 338,277 380,708 
			 Uganda 1,521,395 1,761,842 
			 Ukraine 1,756,998 2,186,661 
			 United Arab Emirates 8,334,915 11,210,848 
			 Uruguay 848,208 917,432 
			 USA 24,710,760 29,197,884 
			 Uzbekistan 834,864 857,801 
			 Venezuela 1,468,968 1,649,687 
			 Yemen 2,022,984 2,077,981 
			 Zambia 966,463 1,000,263 
			 Zimbabwe 1,798,044 2,150,411

Patrol Craft: EU Grants and Loans

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to apply for funding for maritime patrol aircraft under the EU External Borders Fund.

Damian Green: I have been asked to reply.
	The UK is excluded from the External Borders Fund as it builds on the part of the Schengen Agreement in which the UK does not participate.

Peacekeeping Operations

Kwasi Kwarteng: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the circumstances in which UK armed forces should be committed for the purpose of keeping internal order in another country.

David Lidington: The Strategic Defence and Security Review set out the Government's position on the use of the armed forces. We will deploy them where key UK interests are at stake, where we have a clear strategic aim, where the likely political, economic and human costs are in proportion to the likely benefits, where we have a viable exit strategy, and where justifiable under international law. Decisions on individual deployments will be a matter for discussion in the National Security Council.

Qatar: Trade Agreements

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to reach trade agreements with other countries following the model of the recent agreement with the Government of Qatar.

Mark Prisk: I have been asked to reply.
	Following the signature of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Business, Trade and Technical Co-operation with Qatar in October 2010, we have signed a similar MOU with the Kuwaiti Government in February 2011. There are no other similar MOUs planned at this time.

Somalia: Politics and Government

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Somalia; and what reports he has received of the  (a) capture of Bulo Hawo and  (b) recent deaths of African Union peacekeepers.

Henry Bellingham: The political situation in Somalia remains fragile and we continue to work with the Transitional Federal Government and our international and regional partners to take forward the UN-led Djibouti Peace Process. We have made clear to the Transitional Federal Institutions that there can be no extension of their mandate without reform to make them more legitimate and representative in the eyes of the Somali people. We are aware of the recent fighting in and around Bulo Hawo and are watching developments closely, particularly any impacts on the humanitarian situation in the area.
	I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the professionalism, commitment and bravery of the African Union peacekeeping troops in Somalia. We regret the recent deaths of troops of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and have sent our condolences to the Governments of Burundi and Uganda. The UK fully supports AMISOM in its efforts to create secure space in Mogadishu. We have recently announced a £2 million contribution to the UN Trust Fund for AMISOM in support of its efforts.

Sri Lanka: Human Rights

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the level of independence of Sri Lanka's Human Rights Commission.

Alistair Burt: The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights downgraded Sri Lanka's Human Rights Commission status in 2007. This changed the status from one of full compliance with the Paris Principles:
	http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/parisprinciples.htm
	to one of not full compliance and reflected concerns over its political and financial independence.
	New Human Rights Commissioners have recently been appointed, in accordance with the 18(th) amendment to Sri Lanka's constitution, which was passed in 2010. Upon the passing of the 18(th) amendment we expressed our concern that the new appointment procedures as outlined, including for the Human Rights Commission, risked further weakening public trust in the independence of key institutions.
	We have raised with the Sri Lankan Government the importance of having an effective Human Rights Commission. We will monitor the work of the newly constituted Commission.

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

Equality

Priti Patel: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what steps she plans to take to introduce  (a) the recommendations of the recent meeting of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council and  (b) the European Pact for Gender Equality; and what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse in implementing each.

Lynne Featherstone: The recent meeting of Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council considered two items of particular relevance. It took note of the annual report on progress towards equality between women and men 2010. This report acknowledges areas where progress has been made, both at national and European level. This report was for information only and no action is required.
	The Council also adopted Council Conclusions on the European Pact for Gender Equality (2011-2020). This Pact reaffirmed the Council's intention to make progress on gender equality, particularly with regard to closing the gender gaps in employment and social protection; promoting better work-life balance for women and men; and combating all forms of violence against women. The Government are already taking comprehensive action in these areas, such as voluntary pay reporting and our Violence Against Women Action Plan. We are therefore not required to take additional action to implement the Gender Pact, and the additional implementation costs arising from the pact are nil.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Apprentices

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of apprenticeships which will be created in  (a) Bedford constituency and  (b) England in the next 12 months.

John Hayes: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Southend West (Mr Amess) on 16 March 2011,  Official Report, column reference 432W.

Apprentices

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many  (a) apprenticeship and  (b) advanced apprenticeship starts there were in (i) Southend West constituency, (ii) the Southend borough council area and (iii) the Essex county council area (A) in total and (B) in each sector in each of the last five years; and what proportion of each were (1) men and (2) women.

John Hayes: I will place the relevant data tables in the Libraries of the House.
	We only hold information at region, local education authority and parliamentary constituency levels of geography. Information on the number of apprenticeship starts is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 27 January at:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statistical firstrelease/sfr_current

Credit Cards: Fees and Charges

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he expects the Office of Fair Trading to complete its investigation into surcharges for credit and debit card purchases.

Edward Davey: The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is not currently investigating the surcharges for credit and debit card purchases. However it expects to receive a super-complaint on surcharges from  Which? at the end of March. The OFT will consider the evidence submitted and undertake whatever work is necessary to establish the extent, if any, of the alleged problems. The OFT must then publish a response within 90 days from the day after which the super-complaint was received stating what action, if any, it proposes to take in response to the complaint and giving the reasons behind its decision. In some cases, it may be possible to resolve the concerns and propose remedies within the 90-day period but, in more complex cases, further work may be called for.

Departmental Rail Travel

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many and what proportion of civil servants in his Department are entitled to travel first class by rail within the UK.

Edward Davey: All staff are asked to give full consideration to the class of travel they use and the expectation is that staff will make official journeys at the lowest cost and using standard class of travel.
	Under the current travel policy however for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) all staff in grades senior executive officer to senior civil service have a contractual entitlement to travel first class by rail within the UK. This represents 1,436 staff and equates to 53% of BIS staff.
	Staff who have a contractual entitlement have been asked to reflect on whether they exercise this right before booking any travel at first class. First class rail travel from December 2010 to February 2011 represented 3% of the total journeys taken by the Department.

Departmental Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what regulations his Department has repealed between 4 February and 28 February 2011.

Mark Prisk: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Vale of Glamorgan (Alun Cairns) on 16 March 2011,  Official Report, column 433W.

English Language: Education

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  if he will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to Brighton, Pavilion constituency, his assessment of the effects of his Department's policy of removing funding for English for Speakers of Other Languages learners for people on benefits other than jobseeker's allowance and employment and support allowance in the work-related activity group;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of English for Speakers of other Languages (ESOL) learners who receive benefits in the Brighton and Hove area who received ESOL funding during the current academic year who would not receive funding under the proposals in his Department's Further Education-New Horizon: Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth strategy;
	(3)  what the definition is of the cohort referred to by the phrase "co-funding for those who are settled here" in the ESOL section of his Department's strategy document, Further Education-New Horizon: Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth;
	(4)  whether he has sought information from providers of courses of English for Speakers of Other Languages on  (a) expected changes in the level of fees for their courses in the next academic year and  (b) the reasons for such changes; and if he will make a statement.

John Hayes: The Equality Impact Assessment published alongside "Skills for Sustainable Growth" (November 2010) found that, at the aggregate level, there are unlikely to be disproportionate impacts on protected groups. A separate assessment of how the changes may affect English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) learners is currently being carried out by this Department, and I expect to be able to publish the assessment in due course. At the local level, colleges and training organisations are best placed to work with their communities to identify particularly vulnerable learners as a part of their business planning and local engagement.
	In the 2009/10 academic year, 1,310 adult learners in Brighton and Hove local education authority participated in Government-funded ESOL courses; 700 were in receipt of full Government funding from the Adult Learner Responsive funding stream. From August, full Government funding will be provided for unemployed people in receipt of jobseeker's allowance or in the Employment and Support Allowance (Work-Related Activity) Group, and this will include ESOL courses where English language skills have been identified as a barrier to entering employment. We will continue to pay 50% of ESOL course fees for people who are settled here. We will no longer fund ESOL courses delivered in the workplace.
	Eligibility for full or part public funded ESOL provision is set out in the Skills Funding Agency's learner eligibility criteria, which is based on a person's ordinary residence. For funding purposes, the agency regards an ordinarily resident any person who habitually, normally and lawfully resides from choice and for a settled purpose in England. Full learner eligibility guidance can be found on the Skills Funding Agency and YPLA website:
	http://readingroom.ypla.gov.uk/ypla/agency-leg2010-11-version1aon12-04-2010.pdf
	As autonomous bodies, further education (FE) colleges and training providers are responsible for their fees policies. We have introduced increased freedoms and flexibilities for FE colleges and providers providing them with increased flexibility to respond to the needs of their communities.

Further Education: Learner Support Fund

Ben Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he proposes to permit further education colleges to distribute funds from the Learner Support Fund to students aged 19 and over.

John Hayes: Further education colleges currently distribute discretionary learner support funds to students aged 19 and over. The future arrangements for administering these funds are under consideration and announcements will be made in due course.

Green Investment Bank: Interest Rates

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent representations he has received on the mechanism for setting the interest rates for the Green Investment Bank; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: In the course of setting up the bank we have received a number of representations as to its business and operating model. I will be making a detailed announcement in May.

Green Investment Bank: Scotland

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many meetings he has had with the Secretary of State for Scotland on the Green Investment Bank; and on which date each meeting took place.

Mark Prisk: To date the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has had one meeting with the Secretary of State for Scotland on the Green Investment Bank on the 26 January 2011.

Local Enterprise Partnerships: Internet

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many local enterprise partnerships have websites.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 16 March 2011
	Currently nine local enterprise partnerships have bespoke websites. Other local enterprise partnerships are using local authority or existing partnership websites to share information.

Northwest Regional Development Agency

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has made an assessment of the  (a) cost to the public purse and  (b) effect on employment levels in the North West of the transfer to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs of responsibility for the North West Regional Development Agency's rural development programme.

James Paice: I have been asked to reply.
	There are limited costs as a result of the transfer of responsibility to deliver elements of the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) from regional development agencies to DEFRA, primarily as a result of some IT and accommodation moves. These will be met from DEFRA's existing administrative RDPE budget, including costs related to the transfer of responsibilities from the North West Regional Development Agency. Efficiencies arising from these transfers are expected to contribute towards the savings currently anticipated under that programme as part of the Department's spending review settlement.
	Employees of the North West Regional Development Agency who currently administer the delivery of the rural development programme have the right to transfer into DEFRA under the terms of the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice on staff transfers. The RDPE delivery will continue to be focussed on improving agricultural competitiveness and supporting rural businesses, including those in the North West.